Do you remember those Christmas plays where you would dress up as a shepherd? Well, it’s understandable even if you didn’t grow up in a Christian household to be aware of the traditions of Christmas where young kids would be forced to reenact the nativity scene as different characters with little to now enthusiasm. These Christmas pageants have their fair share of delightful quirks that make for good stories. Surely, there still is a sizable number of people who watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year, which is supposedly around Christmas. Now, however, there is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
It’s not one of those classic Christmas movies but it showcases a wonderfully casted Judy Greer and the seasoned comic Pete Holmes, Perkins portrays these over the top characters providing humor to the sheepish tale. Directed by Dallas Jenkins of (The Chosen fame) and based on the book of the same name by Barbara Robinson it is spread for the most part over family friendly landscapes or iconic Christmas vacation tones.
想係我想像中搞嘅聖誕舞台劇 insprires you but does not get your heart racing then maybe remembering the childhood family with rowdy children hooks some nostalgia for you. Or you think of a household with a couple having say four or five kids, and you were wondering, the household must be chaotic what is their day looks like. In Lionsgate’s newly released Christmas movie this family is the Herdmans with a shocking number of six children who are known for their bad further aggravating their reputation in the seemingly quiet country side town.
To start with the eldest girl Imogene (Beatrice Schneider), this family has been through many destructive actions throughout their life, such as; starting fires, beating kids up during recess and even stealing from corner shops. But probably what is most shocking is their appeal to all the families in town to become members of the congregations Christmas pageant which at any average year wouldn’t stand out, except this year the church is celebrating its 75th anniversay which marketers are putting a lot of hype around.
At first, the congregation can’t believe that the Herdmans have come only to steal the food hidden in every corner of the church. However, when they recognize that six siblings mean business, gets ready for a rough festive season in that part of the county. People are also flabbergasted to learn that this important year of the pageant, which is even advertised on television — can you imagine? — will be submitted to rookie director Grace {Greer Jones]. Her husband Bob {Holmes] can’t believe his ears anymore, let alone see, and when her children, Beth {Molly Belle Wright] and Charlie {Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez] come to the room and ask their father whether someone died because he looks so pale, the always funny Holmes says, “It is worse, it’s worse…”.
Greer is completely well cast as Grace – the audience has no problem imagining a kind Midwestern lady using her beautiful voice and smile to convince Harold Evans that it is time to let the Herdmans star in the “Bible play” – even inviting Imogene to portray the Virgin Mary, regarded as one of the most prestigious roles.
When some other soccer moms give Grace an earful and she responds, “What do you want me to do, ex-communicate them from the church?” the women give a perfect Wes Anderson response, ‘Yes.’ There was cheer.
Guided by the Christmas spirit, Grace feels confident she will make the troubled Herdmans live up to their ownl names. She even gets the blessing of a husband who has his very own thoughtful plans for the disheveled herd family, who in all honesty are in dire need of help, even if it is just emotional help Edwin R. Chapman.
According to director Jenkins this will be a Christmas classic just the way it is with Andrew Erwin (Ordinary Angels, White, Unsung Heroes) Productions backing in. Perhaps that is why Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls fame is also helping as the adult Beth who goes narrating the story much like the classic A Christmas Story known for its memorable lines. Graham is always delightful to look at but it was quite funny when adult-Ralphie voiceovers were used in Bob Clark’s film of classic humor.
Even though the mischief of the Herdman kids is a welcome modification to the holiday-classic cinema family, this is a children oriented movie and we would be surprised if any adult sits in for the movie without children. If only there were more of Holmes’ comedic antics to support Lionsgate’s new film. There are some like the part when Grace says that she remembers how she made a big speech at the church when she was being made a director of the pageant. Bob, in disbelief says, “Did you say all that?” And Grace confirms, “No, not really,” and he says again, “Well then, all of it?” This film perhaps could have had better longevity had there been more available of Greer and Holmes’ banter together.
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