Having read the book as a kid, I was intrigued by the possibility of an adaptation of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Hearing Judy Greer and Lauren Graham were in the cast also piqued my interest.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” would have been more successful had it focused more on the kids than the adults. There were a few moments for Imogene Herdman (Beatrice Schneider) and Beth Bradley (Molly Belle Wright) in the spotlight, but it was otherwise mainly focused on what was happening with Grace Bradley (Greer) as she is forced into directing her church’s beloved annual Christmas pageant.

Things get further complicated when the Herdmans, a group of ragtag, rough-housing siblings, show up to join the play in an effort to get free desserts when it’s all over and also find a way to escape their home life. The other parents and some of the other kids protest their participation, but Grace decides to let them get involved.

I didn’t have my expectations set too high for this adaptation of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” as I knew this is a Christmas movie and a Christian story, two things that unfortunately tend to make the cheese factor high in a film.

I was right to have low expectations. It is very cheesy and very heavy-handed on the “reason for the season.” If that’s what you’re looking for in a Christmas film this holiday season, you should definitely check it out. I’m going to stick to the classics like “Christmas Vacation,” “A Christmas Story,” “Home Alone,” “The Holiday,” “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “The Family Stone.”

Rating: 2.5/5