This feel-good family Christmas movie stays true to the humor and spirit of the book. Like the beloved novel on which it is based, The Best Christmas Show Ever He’s not shy about showing off his “baddest kids ever” glory to his six Herdman siblings (Imogene, Ralph, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys) (yes, they smoke!). Beatrice Schneider shines as Imogene, the intimidating and fiery ringleader who revels in the drama of the show. The shepherds’ growing interest in the nativity story is both charming and a reminder of how little they learn about Christmas in homogeneous Christian communities. Their mother, who was mostly absent, never explained what this meant and left the children to fend for themselves anyway.

The young cast captures their characters well, and the church mothers are amusingly judgmental, making the “terrible” Herdmans even more likeable. Graham’s narration is both sincere and entertaining. Director Dallas Jenkins, known for faith-based projects Selectedmakes this adaptation accessible to secular audiences while retaining enough spiritual elements to please Christian families. The film offers an old-school Christmas comedy with a light touch of evangelism, full of laughs and heartfelt messages.