Film Reviews

Nativity

• Rating:
• Director: Debbie Isitt
• Starring: Ashley Jensen
• Details: UK / 110mins (G).

A little less to do with the birth of Jesus and a little more do with Britain's Got Talent, Nativity has enough heart and gags to entertain all the family in the run up to Christmas. It does tend to outstay its welcome, however.
Paul Maddens (Freeman) has always wanted to make it as an actor; the third of a tight trio that included girlfriend Jennifer (Jensen) and friend/love rival Gordon Shakespeare (Watkins), the world was at his feet a few years ago. It never happened for him, though. Paul is now a frustrated and grumpy teacher in a dingy Coventry primary school and has broken up with Jennifer, who has moved to LA to be a big shot Hollywood producer. Gordon has moved on too: he's now the principal of a private school and has won various awards for his nativity plays. Urged by his principal to show up the private school, Paul lies to Gordon about this year's nativity, telling him that Hollywood are coming to make a movie of the play. His childlike and over-enthusiastic classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Wootton) overhears Paul's fib and soon the lie spreads, then mushrooms, and soon the whole city is in a dizzy about the kids' impending fame. How long can Paul keep the sham going? And will Hollywood turn up?
Nativity might be your basic Scrooge story - grouchy guy learns to cheer up - and given a makeover that likens it to Sky One's Grease series, but it's very much its own animal too. The comedy is very improvised, which Freeman can do in his sleep after two seasons with The Office, and he does the job asked of him without breaking a sweat. Wootton's Mr Poppy will do one of two things - annoy the hell out of you or entertain you; kids should love him like they do a crazy uncle. Adults might want to kill him. The amateur kids shine and all pitch in for the 'aw factor'.
The direction lets the side down, however. Isitt, best known for the entertaining wedding mockumentary Confetti, shoots with a 'that'll do' attitude that smacks of laziness. Saying that, the age group Nativity is pitched at won't care or even notice the cheap TV style of the proceedings. It drags towards the climax too: the nativity itself lasts a decent fifteen minutes screen time and there's only so much you can take when you're kid isn't even in the play.

Review by Gavin Burke