Film review: Nativity! – it's the kids that steal the show
Nativity! (Cert U) Starring Martin Freeman, Ashley Jensen, Jason Watkins and Marc Wootton, with Pam Ferris, Ricky Tomlinson, Alan Carr and John Sessions
There's a special appeal about a film which you read was shot "entirely on location in Coventry and Los Angeles". And this is a very British Christmas family film, and all the better for it.
Martin Freeman is a failed actor who retrains as a school teacher (Mr Maddens) and ends up in charge of a class at unfashionable St Bernadette's RC primary school in Coventry. Having broken up with his girlfriend (Ashley Jensen) at Christmas, he's become a real Scrooge when it comes to the festive season.
So when his headmistress (Pam Ferris) decides he's going to produce the school's traditional nativity play, things go from bad to worse. The last time he'd done it, the production was trashed by the local drama critic (Alan Carr), who always gives a rave review to the posh independent school up the road, whose play is produced by his long-time adversary Gordon Shakespeare (Jason Watkins).
When Maddens runs into Shakespeare at a local garden centre, he is goaded into saying that the St Bernadette's production is pulling out all the stops - and has attracted the attention of Hollywood. Childlike classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton) overhears, tells the children ... and mayhem ensues.
I won't spoil the plot by telling you more but it all builds to a typically feelgood climactic ending.
While the film is about a school putting on a nativity play – and manages to retain a down to earth, comic documentary feel much of the time – don't go expecting a detailed explanation of the nativity story.
However, do expect to be moved when you least expect it, do expect to enjoy a funny, heartwarming movie that you can enjoy with the whole family, and do expect to hear some of the songs that feature popping up in a primary school nativity near you in the future.
Turning the Christmas story into an all-singing, all-dancing musical extravaganza means a few liberties are taken, but go with it and you'll be surprised what comes out by the end.
Martin Freeman holds things together as an ordinary bloke struggling with a situation that has blown completely out of control, and there is strong support from Ashley Jensen and Jason Watkins, with nice character parts from Pam Ferris, Ricky Tomlinson and Alan Carr.
Marc Wootton shines as puppyish man-child Mr Poppy, and delivers some real laugh out loud moments.
But – as it should be – the kids really steal the show. Ben Wilbey (Bob, above) is one of the standouts. With director Debbie Isitt's decision not to use professional child actors but instead to audition local kids in Coventry, she ended up with an appealing bunch with raw talent but just normal kids, not performing moppets.
And that makes all the difference: this is a family Christmas film that delivers – a fun idea, great performances, highly entertaining and with a strong message that great things can come from the most unlikely places.
See it. And don't forget to check out the back-up resources at www.damaris.org/nativity
Russ Bravo
