This year for Christmas I decided to do 28 reviews of Christmas movies (new and old) for the 28 days leading up to Christmas Day. The movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the twenty-fourth Christmas film of this little end-of-year event. If you want to suggest a film, I'll let you do so in the comments. Find previous films in clicking here.
???? The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ???? // De Dallas Jenkins. Avec Judy Greer, Pete Holmes et Molly Belle Wright.
Adapting a cult literary work for the screen is always a risky bet. With The Best Christmas Pageant EverDallas Jenkins had in his hands a rich material, overflowing with humor and emotions. However, this remake proves incapable of capturing the essence that made the novel and the previous television adaptation successful. Here's why this contemporary version sorely lacks magic and authenticity. One of the most frustrating aspects of this film is the handling of the children's performances. Judy Greer, as Grace Bradley, plays a mother eager to prove her worth by taking the reins of her church's Christmas play. This role could have been an opportunity to highlight youthful talents capable of transmitting the touching awkwardness and energy specific to childhood.
The little Herdmans are enfant terrible. This Christmas, they're taking over their local church's pageant and just might unwittingly teach the community the true meaning of Christmas.
But that's not what's happening here. Beatrice Schneider, who plays Imogene Herdman, seems to play her character in a too forced, lacking natural way. However, this is not a problem with the actress, but with the direction. A good performance can only flourish under skillful direction, and here there is a lack of nuance. The children seem stuck between too much dialogue and poorly timed pauses, creating an impression of constant overplay. The rest of the cast, while promising, faces the same problem: every scene seems to be read aloud rather than lived. Dallas Jenkins, known for his work in Christian-themed cinema, seems to have wanted to play on several fronts: humor, emotion and spirituality.
Unfortunately, his inability to master narrative pacing is evident. The visual gags and humorous dialogues fall flat, due to a lack of staging capable of supporting them. Some scenes drag on needlessly, repeating already established points, while others, which could have offered moments of sincere emotion, are scuttled by clumsy editing. This slowness particularly undermines the moments supposed to be funny or touching, making viewing laborious. Another major disappointment lies in the production design. Where one might expect a warm and festive atmosphere, the film offers lifeless sets and costumes. The scenes meant to evoke the magic of Christmas seem devoid of any charm.
Even the props, like the mugs of hot chocolate meant to symbolize conviviality, seem strangely inauthentic, accentuating the impression of a hastily produced film. Additionally, the soundtrack leaves something to be desired. Instead of supporting the story with evocative musical choices, it settles for clichés, going so far as to use songs that sound like cheap imitations of well-known titles. This further weighs down the experience, making every element of the film feel like a pale copy of what it could have been. One of the greatest appeals of the original novel is the complexity of the characters. The Herdmans, these rambunctious children, are not just troublemakers: they embody a fascinating mix of chaos and unexplored potential.
They are boorish but endearing, and their gradual transformation in the Christmas show is both funny and moving. In this adaptation, this richness is completely lost. The Herdmans become caricatures without depth, reduced to simple comic elements. Their journey loses all emotional impact, and their redemption, which should have been a strong moment, seems artificial and rushed. Likewise, the character of Grace Bradley, who should be the beating heart of the story, lacks substance. Instead of playing an ordinary woman overcoming her insecurities to create something beautiful, she is relegated to a generic figure, crushed by a production that doesn't know what to do with her.
However, not everything has to be thrown away. The film attempts to move away from heavy religious clichés, often present in Christian-themed productions. It offers a plot where the antagonists are not unbelievers to be converted, but members of a religious community stuck in its traditions. This more subtle approach could have been a strength, if it had been better exploited. Likewise, the concept of young misfits involuntarily integrating into a community could have been handled with more finesse. Unfortunately, this attempt is drowned out by clumsy scriptwriting choices and a production that fails to balance humor and emotion.
At the end of the day, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is an adaptation that lacks heart. Where the original work and the television version were able to capture the spirit of Christmas with simplicity and authenticity, this remake gets bogged down in approximate execution. The charm of the story is smothered by bland art direction, clumsy writing, and an inability to convey sincere emotions. It is unfortunate that a story so rich with potential was reduced to a forgettable production. This film could have been a great opportunity to introduce a new generation to a timeless story about tolerance, redemption and the importance of looking beyond appearances. Instead, it leaves a bitter taste, that of a broken promise.
For fans of the novel, it is better to turn to the original work or the first television adaptation. As for this remake, it is probably destined to sink into oblivion, a place it sadly seems to deserve.
Note : 4/10. In short, a missed opportunity to recreate the magic of Christmas.
Released on December 23, 2024 directly on VOD
