Nativity! (2009) Reviews

• As warm and as enchanting as a Whisky Mac.

  Spikeopath2009-12-20

  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.

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• Heart warming and hilarious....

  najonz2009-11-26

  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.

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• Feelgood Christmas movie

  stephen-sloan-598-1735512009-12-03

  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 over analyse it like some have done. The plot is simple, the kids are fantastic and Bob steals the show as well as your heart. Yes this is a low budget film but they must have had loads of fun making this film. If you want to see a film that makes you feel good then this is the one for you.

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• Great film, funny

  billythetree2009-11-22

  Enjoyed it all the way through, yes it is a low budget film, it didn't suffer for, the family will love it....most of the characters are well funny.....nice one for Xmas.....well done Debbie. The introduction of the teaching assistant was fabulous, he and the kids quite rightly stole the film......we all wish we had someone like that at school. Te improvisation was excellent, the kids seemed to really respond well to what for most was an alien environment. The story line held up better than i expected but then i didn't go to see it, expecting to see a masterpiece. The scenes in the Cathedral were brilliant, also it was great to see so much of my home town in the film....and my sister!I would encourage everyone with kids go and see this film....you will enjoy it.

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• 100% joyful

  jojordan20032009-11-26

  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.

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