In the new holiday film “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” releasing this week from Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate Pictures, comedian Pete Holmes takes on a role that taps into his real-life experience as a father— that of a calm, supportive dad figure amidst the chaos. Starring alongside Judy Greer (“13 Going on 30”) Elizabeth Tabish (“The Chosen”), and Lauren Graham (“Gilmore Girls”), Holmes portrays Bob, the husband of Grace, who has stepped in to direct the town’s annual Christmas pageant.

“The chaos is sort of happening around me, and I get to fill that slot of being the dad who, every once in a while, makes a joke or supports Judy (Greer) as she’s trying to keep this chaos under control,” Holmes said. “And honestly, that was fun. It reminded me of what it feels like to be a dad in real life.”

Holmes estimated that 95% of his true life is being a dad, compared to the 5% of being the comedian fans know from his stand-up and TV appearances. So, this role, which allows him to bring that nurturing, dad-like energy, felt like a natural fit.

“This was more comfortable for me, in a way,” he said. “Typically, I’m the one getting the punchlines as a comedian, but in this movie, I get to be the more calming factor.”

The actor said he was permitted a few “Dad joke” one-liners (“you can only have like one an hour”), but ultimately was more of the silent type: “Who knows what I’m doing inside, but on the outside, I look very steady.”

Holmes’ journey to playing Bob has an interesting backstory. Growing up, he was drawn to the theatrical elements of his local church, recalling his envy of the other kids who got to perform in the annual Christmas pageants and skits.

“I remember very vividly being jealous, as a performer who hadn’t really started performing, but in church watching,” he said. “We didn’t call it a pageant, but there was theater at that time of the year, and I would watch the other kids kind of do if it was the nativity scene, or maybe it was just kind of like a short scene that had some sort of message, usually kind of made you cry, or was moving. I remember being like, ‘I want to be up there’.”

That desire to perform eventually led Holmes to pursue a path toward ministry and attending Christian college for that purpose. However, he ultimately discovered a career in comedy.

“I went to a Christian college to become a youth pastor,” he said. “I discovered comedy and ended up becoming a comedian. And my mom said, ‘Close enough.’ That was her joke.”

While Holmes may have strayed from the youth pastor path, his background and experiences in the church setting proved valuable when it came to filming “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” He found the authentic feel of the church scenes, from the pastor’s sermons to the way people interact, easy to tap into.

“The way that (director) Dallas (Jenkins) cast it felt very authentic to me,” he said. “The pastor doing the sermon, even the way you sit in church and how you relate to people, there’s a certain flavor to that, and that was easy for me to sort of tap back into.”

Holmes couldn’t resist the opportunity for some good-natured laughter, something he’s all too familiar with from his own church experiences growing up.

“The greatest laughs of my life have been in church for one reason or another,” he said. “Something strikes you. It’s not even that funny, but it strikes you funny, and then you just get the giggles. And that happened a number of times on the set, for sure.”

Holmes said Jenkins praised his ability to bring that spirit of play to the role, noting that he and co-star Judy Greer required more direction than the child actors, but that Jenkins was patient in guiding them.

“Dallas was exactly what you want in a director. He kind of has like a Viking-like leader, presence, and that’s what you want, somebody who’s confident, decisive,” he said. “He led it calmly and gently, though he wasn’t overbearing. He let us play.”

With his relatable dad energy, comedic experience, and personal connection to the material, Holmes brings a heartwarming, humorous touch to the big screen adaptation of the classic story.

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” based on the book by Barbara Robinson, adapted for the screen by Ryan Swanson, directed by Dallas Jenkins and starring Judy Greer, Pete Holmes, Elizabeth Tabish, and Lauren Graham, releases Nov. 8 from Lionsgate Studios and Kingdom Story Company. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here. Watch an exclusive interview with Holmes and DeWayne Hamby below.

DEWAYNE HAMBY has covered faith-based music, movies, television, books, and the retail industry for more than 30 years. He is a film member of the Critics Choice Association and the author of the book Gratitude Adjustment. Connect with him at on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or InstaGram.