Nativity!

Nativity is heartwarming and completely joyful.

It's about a teacher, Mr Maddens, who is so stressed about organising a Nativity play and meeting an old rival, that he tells the huge white lie that a Hollywood Studio, headed by his ex girlfriend, is coming to see his Nativity Play in Coventry! The lie spirals out of control and soon parents are asking if their kids are going to need Hollywood agents.

I loved the teachers, the British humour and of course the kids.

I was hooked into the world from the word go. I loved the rivalry between the two schools. The introduction of Mr Poppy created even more of a spark. The trip to Hollywood is hilarious and the 20 minute musical finale is stunning.

I took my 9 year old and her mates and they loved it. It's so rare that we can enjoy a film together that isn't about shopping and starring Hannah Montana!

I want to find out if there is a soundtrack.

It's so good to see a film that is just simply joyful. I think it's appeal will last for years.

He's a failed actor, his girlfriend has left him and gone to make it big in America, and now, school teacher Paul Maddens has to direct the Nativity play. Worse still, after a little white bragging lie to an old rival, Maddens finds things escalating out of his control.

Ah, the Christmas movie, a piece of work aimed at a certain market at a certain time of year. Many movies of Christmas past have been excruciatingly bad, either by losing sight of the holiday heart, or by going for a different angle at a season which is meant to be jolly. In the main then, the Crimble picture has been blighted by a train of thinking akin to damned if you do, damned if you don't. Debbie Isitt's Nativity! will not achieve any reviews proclaiming it to be refreshingly new, rightly so since it's a standard seasonal fare based story. What hopefully will be said is how utterly beguiling and warming the film is, so yeah! Basically a Christmas picture doing its job.

Chiefly in its favour is that it has a naturalness to it that keeps its charm grounded. There's no miracle in the offering here, no boink over the head with a sledgehammer to enforce its message. Isitt is happy letting the film and its delightful characters go with the flow, the result ending up as being a fully involving experience. It helps too that the army of children (plucked from local auditions by Issitt) are adorable and funny in equal measure. Not that the adults come up short either. Martin Freeman (Maddens) gives a wonderfully controlled performance as the central character, while Marc Wooton as Mr. Poppy, a character showing the child in all us adults, almost steals the movie from the delightful moppet squad. It has its faults, such as a trip to America that quickly loses momentum, and if we are honest then surely the actual Nativity finale goes on a touch too long. But such missteps are easily forgiven given the impact as a whole.

My cinema visiting group at Xmas 2009 consisted of 4 adults and 4 teenagers. As we filed out, there was a mixture of wet eyes and beaming smiles. So yeah! Job done for sure. 8/10

Footnotes: Xmas 2013. With a sequel hitting the theatres this Christmas I thought it time to revisit this film. Delighted to report that it still manages to warm the old cockles of my Xmas heart and remains a seasonal picture that I urge more folk to seek out.

Xmas 2015. Rewatched, still lovely.

Saw Nativity! at a preview screening with my kids and it is a complete delight! It's a rare example of a film for kids that delivers laughs and emotion and hits all the right buttons, but in a fresh and original way that also has a lot for adults to enjoy. I was surprised to be so drawn in by a film that is clearly aimed at children and I'm not ashamed to say I had lump in my throat by the end.

The kids in the film are natural - and hilarious - and the original songs are terrific - we'll be tracking down the soundtrack album! Kids, Christmas, a love story and a musical all rolled into one - what more do you want for some great holiday entertainment? I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes a great 'British Classic' for many Christmases to come - it certainly deserves to be.

Paul (Martin Freeman) was once an aspiring actor, like his friends. One man, Gordon Shakespeare, became a topnotch drama teacher and puts on an annual Nativity Play (very big in Britain) that garners lots of attention. Another friend and love interest, Jennifer, is in Hollywood, now a bigwig producer. But, alas, poor Paul. He is now an upper elementary teacher in a private, Catholic school, where his salary is low and his dreams have been dashed. Enter Mr. Poppy (Marc Wootton)! He is an unconventional teacher's aide that has been deposited on Paul by the well-meaning principal, Mrs. Bevan (Pam Ferris). It seems Poppy is a relative of hers and she's trying to help. Also, Mrs. B announces that Paul will be the director of THEIR school's Nativity Play this time round. Paul is flummoxed and irritated, none of his students seem to be able to sing or act. Neverthess, they adore Mr. Poppy at first sight and, in truth, his odd ways excite them to do better work. One day, most unluckily, Paul runs into the snooty Mr. Shakespeare, who tells of his future, elaborate productions. Loosing control, Paul blurts out that, well, Hollywood in the form of Jennifer is coming to see HIS, Paul's, play. What a fib! Word gets around soon, thanks to Mr. Poppy, who overhears the conversation. Newsfolk descend on Paul's school to find out more. But, how long will it be before the truth comes out? Will it cost Paul is job? This is one funny British Christmas film. Unlike the States, where religious presentations are forbidden under the Bill of Rights, Brits put on pageants each year honoring the true meaning of Xmas, the birth of Christ. (See Love Actually). Only, there is always a fresh take, an added sparkle. Paul's play is no different, sporting new songs and new characters, complete with real barnyard animals. There are FOUR kings in Paul's show, for example, in order to give a shy boy his chance. Mr. Poppy's lyrics and brainstorms also make for a unique re-telling. As such, Freeman and Wootton are perfect foils for each other, the one a straight arrow, the other a different drummer, and both give hilarious performances. All other cast members, including Ms. Ferris, are wonderful, too, as are the darling kids. Then, too, production values, from sets to costumes to script/direction add to the overall merriment here. Therefore, as one might guess, this viewer recommends a showing of Nativity in the near future of most film fans.

I don't get the level of hate this series of films seem to get, they're lighthearted, and make me laugh out loud.

Yes, you have to be in the mood for a bit of daftness, but let yourself go and have a bit of fun!

The first one in particular is really good, with a superb cast (it's like a who's who of British actors!), and Marc Wootton's Mr Poppy is a great comedy character. It's very, very British in tone which I love.

As for the kids, I don't find them annoying, which is unusual for me, so a big plus there!

Give the films a go, you might be pleasantly surprised.