Gilmore Girls is the perfect cold-weather, bingeworthy comfort show that has accompanied millions of Rory and Lorelai fans all around the world. The series that first aired in 2000 is an autumn and winter staple, that's for sure, but an even better way to indulge in the Christmas spirit is to take one of the widely loved Gilmore Girls stars and put them in a Christmas movie.
Lets all bow down to Lionsgate, because the production company together with director Dallas Jenkins were behind making this wish become reality. The Christmas comedy drama movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever connects a Gilmore Girls star to the festive season, and it couldn't be a greater delight. The movie, which was released for the big screens on November 8, 2024, is now finally available to rent on Apple TV+ or Prime Video. As the adaptation of the 1972 children's novel of the same name by Barbara Robinson, there is no doubt that The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is our favorite festive movie of this year, and here's why.
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3 /5 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever ComedyHolidayDramaFamily
Release Date November 8, 2024 Runtime 114 Minutes Cast Judy Greer , Pete Holmes , Molly Belle Wright , Lauren Graham , Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez , Kynlee Heiman , Matthew Lamb , Beatrice Schneider , Ewan Wood , Essek Moore , Mason D Nelligan , Lorelei Olivia Mote , Danielle Hoetmer , Kirk B.R. Woller , Elizabeth Tabish , Vanessa Benavente , Wyatt Dewar , Nolan Grantham , Isla Verlot , Lauren Cochrane , Daina Leitold , Jenni Burke , Stephanie Sy , Tom Young Expand
What Is 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' About?
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever renders the story of The Herdman family, who definitely don't have the best standing in the town's community. The reason for this is mainly the fact that the six Herdman children are as naughty as they come. Imogene, Ralph, Claude, Leroy, Ollie, and Gladys get a kick from running on the wrong track, and there seems to be no end in sight. However, when they find out that their local church offers snacks in Sunday School, they straight up volunteer for the lead roles in the annual Christmas Pageant and start attending it.
While their initial participation is looked upon with anything but joy by the community and the rest of the members of the church pageant, the Herdman children might actually offer a more unconventional, but refreshing take on the Christmas origin story. The children strike the people of the town with surprise as they teach them what the true meaning of Christmas actually is, easily making The Best Christmas Pageant Ever one of the best Christmas movies of 2024.
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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is one of those movies set during the festive season, which has the ability to suck you right in and wrap you up in the warmth (and sometimes chaos) of Christmas and everything else it brings along. This new 2024 Christmas movie is undoubtedly a lovely ride, as director Dallas Jenkins did a fantastic job in bringing this project to life. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever finds its success through great directing from the beginning to the end, as it strikes the perfect level of cozy Christmas feeling, without being overly saccharine. Clearly, immense thought went into each scene, which is supported by the fact that the director spent many years visualizing his project in order to ensure the best possible outcome.
Apart from the director delivering a fantastic job, it is also the cast which turns this movie into a fun ride. And be assured that there are a few familiar faces which will surely sweeten up your viewing experience. Jurassic World's Judy Greer, and Pete Holmes, who appeared in the 2023 movie Woman of the Hour take on the roles of the married couple, Grace and Bob. As the director of the Church pageant, Judy's captivating performance of Grace is an essential part of the movie, which makes her on-screen daughter, Beth, who is played by Molly Belle Wright, just as important. Despite her young age, Wright succeeds in drawing the attention of everyone by delivering a perfect performance.
As already mentioned, another notable cast member is none other than Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham. Having portrayed the role of Lorelai for many years, Graham has significantly influenced the growth of TV culture. It isn't surprising that Lauren Graham stands out in her role as adult Beth, as she has gathered experience of conveying the festive spirit, especially in the best Gilmore Girls Christmas episodes.
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The great directorial work and superb acting also tie in with the delivery of the original story's essence. Fundamentally, the story centers on the Herdman children and their unruly behavior, which is disturbing the peace and quiet of the town's community. While they are truly notorious for it, the children's participation in the Church pageant reveals a whole different side of them, and it also is food for thought for the community. The children don't have much Christian knowledge, which leads them to questioning the traditional narrative surrounding Christmas. Simultaneously, by questioning the origin story (like why they would let Mary sleep in a stable), they come up with a more refreshing take, and lead others to look at it from a different perspective as well.
Because of the children, the audience realizes that it's not just about tradition and sticking to sometimes even obsolete rules, but that it's much more important to look at the actual emotions in a certain situation. By focusing on what the people in the story might have actually felt, the entire spirit of Christmas is made more tangible, which easily makes The Best Christmas Pageant Ever one of the best faith-based movies. It also relates to the fact that the Herdman children were solely seen as misfits, but their approach during the Church pageant reveals that they have a deep understanding of strong emotions and are just as interested and special as all the other children.
Ultimately, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever highlights the true meaning of Christmas, which is to come together as a supportive community, and honor traditions to some extent while also taking on a more refreshing and modern approach. The movie delivers the essential message that Christmas is not about perfection, but about coming together and exploring traditional as well as newer ways of celebrating the season in a united way. Rent on Prime Video and Apple TV+.