“Pageant” goes a little too sentimental and instructive too soon for those viewers whose attention spans are better suited to the antic earlier going. Nonetheless, this is a well-cast, well-crafted diversion for the whole family.

Working from a screenplay by Ryan Swanson, Platte Clark, and Darian McDaniel, Jenkins crafts a tale that moves unsteadily between poignancy and a kind of emotional sterility.

A faith-based film that is going to be really entertaining and accessible for secular audiences as well.

This is a fun, meaningful, warm and hopeful movie, and I can see some of us integrating it into the holiday-movie rotation every year.