Having read the book when I was young, I never saw too much into it that this was overtly Christian in any way. I wasn't a churchgoing kid but I knew people who did. Only a year ago did I learn that there was a whole legacy behind this, a stage musical, two literary sequels, and a 1983 TV special.
I'm not a big fan of 'faith-based' content (no matter how many I've logged implies) but on discovering that this was happening, I set aside all my hesitations in anticipation. Not only is it abundantly clear that this film adaptation faithful to the spirit of the source material but also expands upon it in a graceful manner. There's three notable segments I acknowledge, and they're all perfect.
Now I'm not gonna go watch The Chosen and harp on about it, but director Dallas Jenkins has crafted one of the best Christmas movies in recent memory. Not once does Christmas Pageant feel like it's proselytizing but it's telling the Nativity in such a manner that, in-universe, the Herdmans (aka the worst kids in the whole history of the world) are enraptured but also the unconverted take away with the logically warped way they see it.
It's the young ensemble cast who are the heart of this story, especially Beatrice Schneider as Imogene, the eldest Herdman who serves as guardian of her five siblings. The children's father allegedly left a few years earlier, and their mother works nights. She had to grow up faster than life would allow. The scene where Beth's (the protagonist) father brings a ham to the Herdman residence is perhaps the first sign that these kids aren't all bad.
The unspecified time period is beneficial to the story, in that this can happen anytime, anywhere. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is what I've been searching for for a long time, a 'faith' film that doesn't leave a bad aftertaste. This is my new holiday go-to.
