Vopata
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is an endearing and benevolent adaptation of the famous literary work of Barbara Robinson.
It is a lovely, family-oriented film filled with the Christmas spirit, but at times too much emphasis is laid on its religious aspect, which renders the film’s theme unnatural and over-the-top.
At the end of the film, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is also a film that shows that some holiday stories that appear to be the most sentimental can also be the ones that ask for the most exploration and appreciation of kindness and happiness in the most unexpected of places.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Short Summary and Synopsis
Short Summary
It is true that The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which focuses on the rowdy and unruly Herdman children, is primarily a story of community, redemption and true Christmas spirit.
They decide to hijack the town’s church Christmas play. Christmas traditions are broken and the audience’s expectations of the town are turned upside down as the story unfolds.
The plot concerns deep and troubled children, the Herdmans, who cause trouble and are indeed the most unruly kids in their town, and how they surprisingly find themselves cast in the annual Christmas play.
As events develop in the tale, they challenge the very ideas of the Christmas narrative and show how compassion and understanding can be able to change the world for the better.
Synopsis
This film balances delightful entertainment and a strong depiction of community and forgiveness in a way that one can say is very impressive. The humor in the story is ageless, providing very funny moments that are enjoyed by most kids and grownups.
Young cast members’ acting is very real and at times quite funny, especially when the warring Herdman children cause trouble and comment on traditional behaviors associated with atheistic festive holidays.
Thanks to director George Schaefer, despite the humorous aspect of the story, a quite deep problem of tolerance and the underlying problems of climate change are addressed.
It is a good trip down the memory lane for those who were fans of the book and it is a great find for the younger ones.
Movie Highlights
- The comedic timing and antics of the Herdman kids add depth to the story.
- The film’s message of generosity and humanity is beautifully inclined towards the joyous season making it a warm family view.
- Young actors’ impressive performances in addition to the interesting text was able to adapt the allure of Robinson’s work.
In spite of these limitations, the film succeeds brilliantly in conveying a warm and cheerful festive spirit. It is clear that the intention of the creators was to make a feel-good film, which families can enjoy together, evident from the settings of small towns and the end scene in particular.
Especially impressive are the sequences leading up to and including the climactic event, which show how chaos and imperfections can transform into unexpected beauty and meaning.
