The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Over the decades, our society has gone from MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (on my IMDb list of best films) to many dozens of meet-cute pseudo romcoms that pretend to be X-mas films, and are forgotten as soon as the closing credits roll. Most if not all replete with suspicious Canadian accents. Finally, we have a film which is not original but on-point, interesting, well-written, well-acted, and impactful. They should all be like this. They won't. But they should. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

So I gave this a 9/10. I want everyone to know this is not a true 9/10, but instead this is based on a scale of catching the meaning of Christmas. Let's go ahead and say 10 is it's a Wonderful Life.

Tthe Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is a 9/10. I don't say this lightly. Goodness, it has been years since a movie captured the true spirit of Christmas. The spirit that makes you want to be a better person, and believe in others ability to change. That vibe is so hard to come by, but wow does this movie get it done.

Yes, it's a Christian movie, but not in a preachy way in the slightest. This movie is subtle, and wonderful, and leaves you wanting to be a better person.

Just wow. For a family Christmas movie, bravo.

The adaptation of Barbara Robinson's novel, directed by Dallas Jenkins, becomes one of those future great Christmas classics thanks to the charm of a script that is fun, emotional and full of Christmas spirit.

It stars the ever-reliable Judy Greer and a group of young actors who bring to life a nice film that entertains and excites with good fun for the whole family. This adaptation makes itself loved by transmitting its religious messages with lightness, humor, warmth, generosity, but also with the innocence of childhood that allows it to touch the most resistant fiber of any viewer, because the film never loses its intention to give you a clear, beautiful and welcoming message about the good sense of Christmas and what it represents beyond the figure of Jesus.

The good script work manages to offer moments of witty dialogue while transporting you to its spiritual duties, which end up resulting in it not being the best Christmas movie in history, but it touches your heart and makes you smile. This great achievement allows the film to feel like a great Christmas pastime and invites you to enjoy it in a family atmosphere without limitations.

An adaptation that preserves the essence of this Christmas novel and transforms it into an effective, positive, charming adaptation that is on par with a great pastime for these end-of-year festivities. A fulfilling film that will make us have a good time and will make us shed more than one tear for its gratifying and delicate staging that allows us to always be connected with this innocent, but real and bold adventure about family, belief and the power represented by the figure of Mary that makes the film so pleasant to watch on screen.

Some reviewers here are bashing this movie because they say it is overtly religious. Not true at all and you shouldn't listen to them. It deals with being kind to people who aren't easy to like. It centers around a play around the birth of Jesus. Hello!!!!! That is what Christmas is about. It does not in the slightest shove converting to Christianity down your throat like some have inaccurately stated.

It's a nice family friendly movie that isn't filled with adult language. If you want a feel good story with a good message then this is the movie for you. Will it win any Hollywood awards? No. It has a decent story and some scenes that made me chuckle and even tug at the heart strings a bit.

Don't listen to the naysayers. They probably prefer the blood and guts movies anyway.

A very enjoyable movie that I plan to add to my annual Christmas movie must-see list.

It's great to have a Christmas movie that is truly about Christmas, and provides moments to both laugh and cry. I had not been familiar with the story, and somewhat surprised to find that it had been around long enough to have already been turned into a TV movies 30+ years ago.

I hope this makes it onto many people's list of favorite Christmas movies. It might be the only one other than Charlie Brown's Christmas that intertwines the true meaning of Christmas with an enjoyable, amusing storyline.

Thank you, Dallas Jenkins.