As a general rule, I’m vehemently opposed to the commercialized Christmas takeover that obscures my beloved Advent season each year, with blaring holiday music in every store and tacky blow-up Santas blotting the lawns of suburban neighborhoods. This year, however, I’ve made an exception, and went to go see the new adaptation of Barbara Robinson’s classic book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (despite it’s not even being Thanksgiving yet — the horror).

Directed by Dallas Jenkins (of The Chosen fame), this movie was delightful, hilarious, timeless, family friendly and above all, poignant. But surely a movie about the Christmas story, a small town, and six wild kids will be terribly cheesy, right? Actually, I think not. Jenkins and his team clearly put a lot of time and thought into the writing and presentation of the movie, and chose their cast well. By focusing on the fact that the Christmas message is simple and beautiful, they’ve presented the Christmas story in a meaningful way, a way that moves people, makes them think, and makes them laugh.

It’s only out for a few more days in theaters, so I hope you can go see it. If not though, check Amazon Prime Video around December 10.