Naitivity! was a surprise smash hit that made shedloads of cash so, of course, in 2012 Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger arrived and - whisper it - it’s quite good and even funnier than part one. Part two follows the dependable sequel formula of doing the same stuff as last time, but taking the gang on a road trip. Martin Freeman was either unavailable or uninterested, so the role of harried educator is filled by one-time Doctor Who David Tennant as new teacher Donald Peterson. To spice things up, Tennant gets to have fun in a dual performance, also portraying Donald's evil twin Roderick.
Following the success of part one , the filmmakers put even more focus onWootton’s incorrigible Mr Poppy and his increasingly unhinged, Jack Black-esque man-child exhibitionist exploits. It makes no sense that this maniac would be left in charge of children but you'll be glad that he is. So it's fart competitions and infantile behaviour galore, providing top laughs that kids will lap up. If you like potty humour, there's plenty here to enjoy and if you're one of those people who says they don't like fart jokes? I call you a liar.
The plot involves a class trip to Wales to compete in an X-Factor style singing competition against Jason Watkin's cunning Mr Shakespeare and his posh school from part one. The increasingly daft adventure takes in an aquatic bus, a stowaway baby, a donkey and the gang being stranded in the Welsh countryside in a race against time to get to the show on time.
It's flimsy if you think about it too much, with Mr Poppy essentially kidnapping the whole class to go to the show, but balls to logic. This is all about putting these characters in bonkers situations, like white-water rafting, mountaineering and a helicopter rescue. It's delightfully silly, a film made by people letting their inner child sing loud and proud.
The child cast are great again and given more to do this time, while the original songs are again pitch-perfect sugar-coated pop. The musical numbers have even bigger production values this time with more of a festive feel, while including humorous, anarchic, but family friendly lyrics, like "All I want for Christmas is...Stuff!"
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