janinebowen

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024)

Religious propaganda disguised as a Christmas movie

Maybe it's my fault for not doing enough research before seeing this movie. I watched one short commercial on TV and agreed to see this with family who suggested it. I was expecting a kind of lame, mildly funny super family friendly Christmas movie, but what I got was basically Christian propaganda.

This movie was less about Christmas and more about trying to convince people to adopt Christianity and find benefits and a community in the church. The entire plot revolves around how these "bad" children magically turn their lives around by "accepting Jesus" and joining the local church.

The entire thing was preachy and uncomfortable to watch, especially as someone who loves Christmas and Christmas movies but has no interest in the religious aspects of the holiday.

Obviously Christmas is a holiday with religious roots, but there are plenty of Christmas movies out there that don't focus on that aspect. This film tries to disguise itself in the advertising as one of those movies only to force theater goers to sit through an hour and a half of proselytizing.

Unless you're deeply religious, I'd skip this one and stay home and watch some of the Christmas classics.