Nativity! (2009)

10 Comments

1. 

   najonz from United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   Saw Nativity! at a preview screening with my kids and it is a completedelight! It's a rare example of a film for kids that delivers laughsand emotion and hits all the right buttons, but in a fresh and originalway that also has a lot for adults to enjoy. I was surprised to be sodrawn in by a film that is clearly aimed at children and I'm notashamed to say I had lump in my throat by the end.

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

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2. 

   jojordan2003 from United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   Nativity is heartwarming and completely joyful.

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

   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 rivalrybetween the two schools. The introduction of Mr Poppy created even moreof a spark. The trip to Hollywood is hilarious and the 20 minutemusical finale is stunning.

   I took my 9 year old and her mates and they loved it. It's so rare thatwe can enjoy a film together that isn't about shopping and starringHannah 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'sappeal will last for years.

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3. 

   billythetree from Coventry United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   Enjoyed it all the way through, yes it is a low budget film, it didn'tsuffer for, the family will love it….most of the characters are wellfunny…..nice one for Xmas…..well done Debbie. The introduction ofthe teaching assistant was fabulous, he and the kids quite rightlystole the film……we all wish we had someone like that at school. Teimprovisation was excellent, the kids seemed to really respond well towhat for most was an alien environment. The story line held up betterthan i expected but then i didn't go to see it, expecting to see amasterpiece. The scenes in the Cathedral were brilliant, also it wasgreat to see so much of my home town in the film….and my sister!Iwould encourage everyone with kids go and see this film….you willenjoy it.

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4. 

   stephen sloan from Liverpool United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   This film leaves you with a warm feeling in your heart.

   I don't agree with some of the minor negative comments on this forum.This is a simple easy to watch film and you should not try to overanalyse it like some have done.

   The plot is simple, the kids are fantastic and Bob steals the show aswell as your heart.

   Yes this is a low budget film but they must have had loads of funmaking this film.

   If you want to see a film that makes you feel good then this is the onefor you.

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5. 

   JohnRouseMerriottChard from United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

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

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

   Chiefly in its favour is that it has a naturalness to it that keeps itscharm grounded. There's no miracle in the offering here, no boink overthe head with a sledgehammer to enforce its message. Isitt is happyletting the film and its delightful characters go with the flow, theresult ending up as being a fully involving experience. It helps toothat the army of children {plucked from local auditions by Issitt} areadorable and funny in equal measure. Not that the adults come up shorteither. Martin Freeman {Maddens} gives a wonderfully controlledperformance as the central character, while Marc Wooton as Mr. Poppy, acharacter showing the child in all us adults, almost steals the moviefrom the delightful moppet squad. It has its faults, such as a trip toAmerica that quickly loses momentum, and if we are honest then surelythe actual Nativity finale goes on a touch too long. But such misstepsare easily forgiven given the impact as a whole.

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

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6. 

   freelancethinkers from Brighton, England
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   Nativity centres around a 30/40something primary school teacher who,being a loser in love, has allowed himself to become bitter andresentful towards his pupils.

   Needless to say he needs to win back the love of his life and re-findhis love for his job, and people in general.

   It comfortably falls back on the rich British heritage for nicey niceromcoms and does a fair job. Not one aspect of any of the characterscame as any surprise or helped to enrich a two dimensional plot – butwho cares, its a Christmas heartwarmer and it does its job well.

   Marc Wootton, in particular, was excellent as Mr Poppy and both hisvisual performance and his well drawn out character were responsiblefor the majority for the laughs – the remainder falling on the narrowshoulders of a funny looking kid, well cast for his comedic value, butpossessed of a face that I was sick of seeing after 90 minutes ofobvious set ups, but then that's probably because I'm as misanthropicas the lead character!

   I took my seven year old daughter, and she absolutely loved it. Ifyou're not a parent and hate children, this is definitely not for you.If, on the other hand, you love Christmas and still have a tender, warmspot in your heart then you could do a lot worse than to go and seethis.

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7. 

   Maz Murdoch (asda-man) from United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   Part of Nativity's charm is that it looks like an average TV drama,especially initially with its TV actors and production values, but asthe film goes on you start to realise that this is so much better thana TV comedy drama Christmas special on BBC2. "Nativity!" is a Christmasclassic, it's something adults and children can equally find funny withit's charming characters and uplifting spirit.

   Martin Freeman plays a likably grumpy teacher who doesn't think much toChristmas after his girlfriend left him to be a Hollywood producer onChristmas day. Enter the star of the show Mr.Poppy! The amazinglyhilarious dim-witted teaching assistant who plays a classic comedycharacter who you can't help but love. Mr.Shakespeare is also abrilliant panto villain who leads his fairly accurate, if not belated,private school to win 5 star reviews. That is until Mr.Poppy blurts outto everyone Martin Freeman's lie that a Hollywood producer is coming tofilm their pathetic attempt of a nativity.

   From here on it's a fight to put on the best nativity play the worldhas ever seen and try to attract Hollywood to come and see them."Nativity!" is so sickly you need a bucket ready at the end of thefilm, as you're stomach starts to dance around. But is also soamazingly uplifting that you can't help but love it! It's completelyover the top nonsense with plenty of "as if!" moments but that's allpart of the charm. Alan Carr also plays a brilliant nativity critic.

   You'll be lucky to find a more jolly, funny and charming Christmas filmthan this. It's brilliant British comedy with a fantastic cast thatwill have you howling with laughter. The final 20 minutes featureincredibly catchy songs and hundreds of health and safety knock-outs.Some might say that it gets a bit too much, but for me it was purecharming escapism. "Nativity!" isn't perfect but I think that's themessage of the film, nothing's perfect, just take things for what theyare.

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8. 

   Neil Welch from United Kingdom
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   At a small Roman Catholic primary school, production of this year'sNativity play is allocated to a hugely unwilling Mr Maddens. When hisidiot classroom assistant Mr Poppy foolishly repeats Maddens' unwise adhoc comment about Hollywood visiting the Christmas play, the whole towngoes mad with excitement.

   This slight conceit is driven by the engine that is Mr Poppy and, as MrPoppy is essentially a big child with no common sense whatsoever, thewhole edifice is balanced precariously on an implausibility ofmonumental proportions.

   Yet somehow this doesn't matter. I hesitate to use the word "nice" inview of how anodyne it can be, but there is an overwhelming nicenessabout this little film. Martin Freeman's customary put-upon everymanpersona is absolutely suited to the role of Mr Maddens, and MarcWootton as Mr Poppy will either irritate the heck out of you, or tickleyou: he tickled me. The rest of the cast all offer sterling support andthe kids, who could so easily be obnoxious showbiz kids, are actuallyrather sweet (even the posh kids at the competitive private school).

   There is a subplot about lost love which brings other areas ofsentiment into focus, and the film ends, of course, with the majorproduction which is the Nativity play in question.

   I laughed from time to time but, more importantly, I smiled all the waythrough – this film left me feeling warm and happy.

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9. 

   rowiko from Narashino City/Chiba, Japan
   30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

   What a delightful film! I watched it on a recent flight, thinking I'dgo for something light that would keep me awake, not expecting too muchreally, and then I was absolutely delighted by this feel-good movie!Great and very convincing performance by Martin Freeman. And "Mr.Poppy" (Marc Wootton) is an absolute joy to watch. But it's definitelythe children that make this film so special. Some of them areabsolutely hilarious.

   Great soundtrack, too. Songs that stick in ones mind even long afterwatching the film.

   This is truly one of the best, most heartwarming and most enjoyableChristmas films I've ever seen, and it goes to show that a directordoesn't need a huge budget to put together a film that is a joy towatch for everyone – children and adults alike!

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10. 

    spanishflea50 from Cambridge, England
    30 Mar 2012, 3:31 am

    I went to see this film with my mum after a Christmas shopping trip andwas amazed by how good it was. The problem with so many Christmas filmsis that the 'ideal Christmas' they end up presenting isAmerican-centric and very materialistic, consequently it was veryrefreshing to watch a Christmas film about a non commercial Britishtradition. It was also a very sweet film that managed to stay the rightside of saccharine, without giving away too much I liked how the filmmanaged to be positive about all of it's characters and not just theobvious heroes. I also thought the film was genuinely funny and pitchedat all levels well from the silly (the children's auditions) to thefairly witty ("Those who can't act, teach, and those who can't teach,teach primary school" isn't a line I'll be repeating to my teacheraunt). All in all this is a lovely Christmas film for the entirefamily!

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