The Movie Guru: ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ pure holiday magic, while ‘Hitpig!’ meant strictly for kids
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (in theaters)
If you’re looking for a Christmas movie as offbeat as it is heartfelt, you want “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
Based on the classic children’s book, the movie brings an almost “A Christmas Story” energy to a small-town church Nativity play. It’s a funny, unflinching look at what it means to be a kid, never saccharine but still managing moments of real sweetness that are perfect for the holidays. It’s definitely a Christian movie, but its faith isn’t overbearing and is focused on acceptance and love. Even if you’ve never heard of the book, it’ll get you in the mood for the holidays.
If you are familiar with the book, that just makes the movie even more special. Director Dallas Jenkins has stated in interviews that he’s wanted to make this movie for 20 years, and when you watch it you can feel every bit of love he has for the book. This is one of the best adaptations I’ve ever seen, remarkably faithful to the source material while at the same time being perfectly adapted to the new medium. A brief postscript has been added, but it’s charming.
A big part of this is that Jenkins seems to have a wonderful grasp of the heart of the story. Neither the story or its more rough-hewn characters have been Hallmark-ized at all, though I’m sure there was pressure to do so. No character arcs come from people changing to fit in. The love is hard-earned, but that just makes it more real.
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In an ideal world, this movie will go on to be a Christmas classic. Just like the pageant in the story, the genre could use some more offbeat magic.
Grade: Four stars
Hitpig! (in theaters)
If there are any parents of small children reading this, let me assure you – despite the name, Hitpig is not an assassin.
He’s a bounty hunter, which is by far the most interesting thing about the movie. Originally a children’s book by Berkeley Breathed, the off-the-wall concept and unusual characters are really the only bits of quirkiness that made it into the movie. Everything else has been transformed into a generic kids’ cartoon, maniacally paced with a constant barrage of jokes that don’t care if they’re any good or not. Poop jokes for the kids, a few “adult” asides aimed at any parents who might be watching, and if they fall flat the movie just zips on to the next one. There are a few sweet moments, and a message somewhere in the middle of all this, but only when the movie dares slow down enough to allow them to happen.
Which, to be fair, puts it on par with the majority of kids’ movies. The animation isn’t bad, and Jason Sudekis and Rainn Wilson are both standouts in the voice acting cast. If you have small children you need to keep occupied for under 90 minutes, they can enjoy yourself while you take a well-deserved nap in your theater seat.
Grade: Two stars
Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Denver Film Critics Society. Find her on Twitter at @wardellwriter or drop her a line at themovieguruslc@gmail.com.
