Reboots are a way of life for Hollywood nowadays. As a matter of fact, like prequels, sequels, and movies based on actual events and books, they seem to be part of what is Hollywood’s only way of life. There are so many prequels, sequels, reboots, and movies based on actual events out there few have proven themselves worth watching ever since this trend started decades ago. This weekend though, a shining diamond in the rough has been uncovered in the latest rendition of author Barbara Robinson’s 1972 story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Only the second ever adaptation of Robinson’s book since the premiere of the 1983 made for TV version (Which aired on ABC), this new take on the holiday classic proves a surprising offering for anyone looking to bring their family together this holiday season. The movie stands out in part because of its story, which will be addressed shortly. The movie’s general presentation adds to its appeal and will be examined a little later. The work of the movie’s cast is additionally important and will also be examined later. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. All things considered they make this movie not only a surprisingly successful reboot but also an equally surprisingly appealing new addition to this year’s field of new movie offerings.
Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company’s brand-new cinematic adaptation of author Barbara Robinson’s timeless story, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a surprisingly entertaining addition to this year’s field of holiday cinema fare. Odds are it is not a movie that will garner any major accolades, but it is a story that families will enjoy. That enjoyment comes in part through its featured story. The story, which stays largely true to Robinson’s book, follows a small town community whose main church prepares to put on its annual Christmas pageant. When the pageant’s original director, Mrs. Armstrong (Mariam Bernstein – Incident in a Ghostland, Time Cut, The Christmas Hope) breaks both of her legs in an accident, parishioner Grace (Judy Greer – Let’s Go Luna, Jurassic World, 13 Going on 30) steps up to lead the pageant. This after fellow mom Mrs. Wendelken (Danielle Hoetmer – Lucifer, Criminal Minds, Riddle of Fire) snidely tells her that her place is to bring cookies to the pageant. Her performance will be discussed later, but this back and forth between Grace and Mrs. Wendelken is a great setup for the story. That covert catty behavior that so many women do between each other is real and leads to plenty of laughs because that conflict is essentially the basis for the entire story. Every woman will attest to the fact that such behavior is real. It happens every day in every community across America. There is one person like Mrs. Wendelken – that elitist snob – in every community. The moms’ conflict grows when the Herdman children are volunteered by the eldest of the kids, Imogene (Beatrice Schneider – Tales From The Void, Littlemouth, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh) to take part in the pageant.
When Imogene volunteers herself and her siblings to lead the pageant and Grace is forced to let them play the pageant’s characters, Mrs. Wendelken and the other “power moms” in the church end up at odds with Grace over her letting them take part. This is where the story becomes even more engaging. That is because of the commentary that Robinson’s original story clearly displays. What Grace does is a deviation of tradition. It breaks from everything everyone at that church and in that town had known for three quarters of a century. At the same time, it is also a way to address all of the overly pious people out there who love to call themselves Christian but who are in reality anything but. The moms who end up at odds with Grace are a representation of those people. They are so judgmental of the Herdman children even though Christian doctrine teaches to accept everyone, especially the downtrodden. They are those pseudo-Christians that give the rest of the faithful such a horrible name. As Grace goes against those pseudo-Christian moms and changes her view on the Herdman kids (even encouraging them in their questioning of what is written in the Bible) the tension builds between herself and the other moms right up to the night of the pageant, when everything changes. The ending will not be given away but it is a happy finale. Staying on that whole matter, that Grace encouraged the children over time to question what is in the Bible is another key part of the story. It is another break with tradition since so many pseudo-Christians think questioning everything we are taught is bad. That all of this is done in a less than preachy fashion makes for all the more enjoyment.
Keeping in mind all of the wonderful enjoyment that this reboot’s story brings audiences, it is just one part of what makes the movie worth watching. The movie’s general presentation is just as important to its whole as its story. Unlike so many reboots out there, this reboot does not try to update its look for a new generation. Rather, it takes audiences back to what could easily have passed for the 1980s. In Grace’s home, the phone was connected to the wall. There were no smart phones. The family rode around in a station wagon, nothing flashy. Even the backdrop of the Herdman’s home, which included a factory in the background, looked like something right out of that era. In other words, considering the original cinematic adaptation aired in 1983, this adaptation is clearly reaching back to that era and doing such an impressive job of doing so. There were no over the top attempts to give it that look, either, which makes for even more appeal. Simply put, the general presentation of the new reboot of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever proves just as successful as the story.
Rounding out the most important aspects of this reboot is the work of the cast. Greer and Schneider lead the way in regard to the acting. Greer’s ability to bring out Grace’s uncertainty in Grace’s unlikely position makes her easily endearing to audiences. Even as she faces off against Mrs. Armstrong and the other moms, the way in which Greer brings out Grace’s innocence while also showing Grace’s growing confidence makes for an interesting character development and balance.
On a similar note, the gradual change of personality that Schneider brings to Imogene over the course of the movie’s 99-minute (1 hour, 39 minutes) run time makes her work just as praiseworthy. It would have been so easy for Schneider to ham it up, especially being so young. But even at her age she showed her experience as an actor, controlling every moment in which she could have over emoted.
While Hoetmer plays only a supporting role in this movie, she is present through much of it and she is to be applauded, too. That is because she makes it so easy to dislike Mrs. Wendelken, what with Wendelken’s snide, snobby attitude, which she clearly passed on her daughter, Alice. Again, every community has that one person just like Mrs. Wendelken, and most of the time that person is that busybody female who just has to try to be the alpha female. Knowing how many women out there are like her, that believability makes her performance spot on and in turn just as great in its own way. Between her performance, those of Greer, Schneider and the rest of the cast, the whole therein makes for so much for audiences to enjoy as well. When the work of the cast is considered alongside the general look of the movie and the movie’s story, the whole makes The Best Christmas Pageant Ever a surprisingly enjoyable presentation even being a reboot.
Lionsgate and Kingdom Story Company’s brand-new reboot of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (which is also technically its first ever fully cinematic adaptation of the story, originally crafted by author Barbara Robinson) is a surprisingly engaging and entertaining offering. The movie’s enjoyment comes in part through its featured story, which largely stays true to its source material. The story is one of faith while also offering a clear social and religious commentary about pseudo-Christians and traditions. It is all presented in a subtle fashion that also lacks any preachy nature, which is even better. The general look of the movie, placing it clearly in the 1980s makes it an equally enjoyable period piece of sorts, making for even more enjoyment. The work of the movie’s cast, leads and all, makes for its own level of enjoyment. That is because the work of the cast is fully believable, leading to even more immersion into the movie. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of this movie. All things considered they make The Best Christmas Pageant Ever a surprisingly great offering this holiday season, even being a reboot.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is in theaters now. More information on this and other titles from Lionsgate is available at:
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