I’ve loved books ever since I learned to read. I mark different periods of my life by what books I was reading during those times. My favorite books hold memories as if they were family members who were present during those milestones.
Because of this, I am often hesitant to watch movies based on my favorite books. It’s almost impossible to create a movie that captures the visions created in my head when reading those books and the movie images tend to take over once I’ve seen them, even if I don’t want them to.
When I heard Dallas Jenkins (The Chosen) was going to be making a movie out of Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, I knew this was a movie I had to see. What I refer to as “The Herdman Series” (The Best School Year Ever, The Best Halloween Ever, and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) have been some of my favorite books ever since I discovered them as a 4th grade teacher. I read each of them to my class and my students loved them just as much as I did. Every year, I struggled to read the funny parts without laughing so hard the students couldn’t understand me. The end of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever always choked me up a bit as well.
If you’re not familiar with the series (seriously, go buy it now!!) the stories are all narrated by Beth, who is just your average student in any class in any elementary school. Her town is also home to the Herdman family who are rough and crass and strike fear into everyone, adults included. Imogene, who is in Beth’s class, smokes cigars and steals. The Herdmans show up to church looking for snacks, but wind up with all the roles in the annual Christmas pageant.
Kingdom Faith Marketing Services was nice enough to send me a screener copy of the movie to watch last week. It was everything I loved about the original book and (surprisingly) more. The book itself is a very quick read at only 108 tiny pages. The book also relies on a lot of internal monologues from the narrator, Beth. I wasn’t sure how well that would translate into a movie, but Jenkins did it beautifully.
He also added a number of embellishments that fit perfectly with the spirit of the book and the characters within it. I have to think that Barbara Robinson would have wholeheartedly embraced the additions if she was still here with us.
The original book and this movie both capture the true meaning of Christmas in a non-preachy, authentic way that catches you off-guard and makes your breath catch in your chest. The actors Jenkins chose to portray these characters were perfect. Judy Greer (13 Going on 30) and Pete Homes (Crashing, The Pete Holmes Show) play Beth’s parents. Greer does a fantastic job as Grace who gets roped into directing the Church’s Christmas Pageant which is then taken over by the Herdmans.
The actors chosen to play the kids (Beth as well as the entire Herdman clan) were exceptional. I wasn’t familiar with any of them from their previous roles, but fully expect to see them again as they were all incredibly talented. I’m particularly excited to see where Beatrice Schneider (Imogene Herdman) goes with her career as she was exceptional!
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever opens in theaters Friday, November 8th. I highly recommend taking the entire family to see it. Everyone in the family will enjoy it, from the kids all the way up to the grandparents. This may very well become your family’s new Christmas movie tradition!
Diane Estrella says
This looks like a cute movie. Can’t wait to see it!