Today, I segue very smoothly from ‘faith-inspired’ movies into the wonderful world of festive franchises and what better way to do that, than with a film that encompasses both? We kick things off with 2009’s surprise British smash hit Nativity! Though director Debbie Isitt’s family-friendly movie has the look and feel of a made-for-TV CBBC festive special - albeit one with a reliably massive star in Martin Freeman - it surprised everyone by spawning a very lucrative franchise. This is the very simple but jolly tale of how Paul Madden (Freeman), a popular but harassed teacher at public primary school St. Bernadettes, is tasked with producing the yearly Nativity play. Silliness ensues when Paul fibs that a Hollywood producer will be coming to turn the play into a movie and things spiral out of control. It’s thoroughly child-friendly, inoffensive stuff with ample jokes and references to keep the grown-ups interested as well.
Brilliantly, this film also acknowledges Herod’s dastardly baby-murdering plot in the film’s most risque, envelope-pushing moment. Hats off to them for having the guts to include a scene about baby murder in a kids film. Well done.
This one cracks the tried and tested ‘throw a bone to the grown-ups’ formula that’s served countless kiddie films from Home Alone to The Lego Movie. It’s largely improvised with some enjoyable, natural performances from much of the young cast. Freeman is hilarious too, with his stressed-out educator constantly digging a deeper hole for himself with his convoluted web of lies. Maddens hates the festive season as he got dumped on Christmas by his missus Jennifer (Ashley Jensen) who left him to pursue a career in Tinseltown.
To make things worse, Maddens is paired with man-child teaching assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton), a calamity of a man who knows a lot about building rapport with his young pupils but bugger all about discipline or self-control. Wootton is the real M.V.P. here, generating numerous laughs with his childish japes, goofing around with his parka round his neck like a Superman cape. Mr Poppy is a genius creation, creating just enough insane, anarchic little moments to keep things entertaining. Highlights include a toe-curling class field trip to the hospital to “see how babies are born” and a full-on playground rammy with the prissy kids from rival posh school presided over by Maddens’ stuck-up rival, Mr Shakespeare (Jason Watkins).
Nativity! is packed full of loveable, gifted little moppets who feel like real kids and it’s fun watching the teachers gradually tease winning renditions out of them, discovering hidden talents, a la School of Rock.
It’s throwaway stuff but infused with enough warmth and a few WTF?! moments to make it all worthwhile. Of course, the school’s big Nativity show ends up being an unfeasibly elaborate production but that just makes things funnier. The play has the feel of a ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ production but has the good sense to aim for the funny bone rather than the heartstrings. The original songs are impressive too, inhabiting the perfect middle ground between High School Musical cheese and S Club toe-tapping irresistibility. Nativity! isn’t bad at all, and UK film–going audiences certainly agreed, with the film raking in over £30 million on a relatively tiny budget.
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