Waste of time

Pretty Good

I wanted to but couldn't!

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

I watched this before and I didn't really enjoy it but then I watched the second and loved it. So I went back to the first and was like I love Mr. Poppy character now but nope still hated it.The lead just seems very poor he just seems like he was there for the money I don't know if this was the case but for me if he was the connections didn't work. Comedy needs the leads to have chemisty this didn't feel like they had any unfortunately.

'Nativity!' while specifically aimed towards children, is without doubt an emotionless and embarrassing tale of how a group of narrowly intellectual adults attempt to bring 'Hollywood stars' to Coventry in a bid to see their Nativity performance.While you cannot fault 'Nativity!' for keeping to its target audience with its content, it's so innocent it rapidly becomes cringing. The apparent jokes and humour all revolve around stereotypical school children immaturity and this is unlikely to please anyone who has been through (or going through) puberty.Humour was appallingly below par, even for the average key stage two citizen, however the negatives do not halt there. The narrative has no emotional grapple with the audience as Martin Freeman's Paul Maddens attempts to rekindle his relationship with Ashley Jensen's Jennifer Lore whilst making his school production a success in the eyes of Alan Carr's local newspaper critic. It's premise is quite enjoyable however Debbie Issit manages to make a mockery of anyone with average intellects with a collection of dreary sing-a-longs patched together with a story you can't care much about.'The School of Rock' is an example of a similar scenario with a similar tale. However, this was exemplary with Jack Black excelling in the leading role. This was a much more cohesive piece as it was hilarious while it also had a strong leading role alongside some admirable performances from the children.And then there was 'Nativity!'. Well...

Whats not to love about this movie? the adult performances are fine (martin freeman doing his usual spot on job), but it's the performance of the kids that have you crying with laughter one minute and just crying the next. This was an unexpected pleasure and an absolute joy from start to finish. This has definitely gone to the top of my "must watch at Christmas" list!! I defy anyone to watch this and not feel the emotions well up (in a good way!) as they view it! If for nothing else, then watch this movie for the last thirty minutes or so to see the nativity play in its full amazing show. Anyone with kids knows what its like to sit through these events, but you'll wish this is how your kids had done it!

Christmas was coming around the corner again, just a month away, so naturally I wanted to cheer myself up with a seasonal film, so I picked this one, from director Debbie Isitt (Confetti). Basically often frustrated primary school teacher Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) has hated Christmas ever since his girlfriend Jennifer Watkins (Ashley Jensen) left him on the festive night in question. He is charged and forced by the headmistress Mrs. Bevan (Pam Ferris) of St. Bernadette's primary school, in Coventry, into making this year's nativity play for, and he has his new classroom assistant Mr. Desmond Poppy (Marc Wootton) to help. Paul is competing against the near posh private school with Gordon Shakespeare (Being Human's Jason Watkins), and Paul lies to his rival that his ex-girlfriend, now working in Hollywood, is coming to the show, and the eccentric Mr. Poppy overhears. With Mr. Poppy spreading rumours, the Headmistress, parents and children of the school are mistaken into believing that people from Hollywood are coming to see a big production of the nativity. Now becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the town, this "little white lie" is getting increasingly more hard to get rid of, especially with Mr. Poppy fuelling his enthusiasm to create a spectacular show. Obviously Paul does tell Mr. Poppy the truth, and the nativity play plans may have just gloated away, but Paul doesn't want to shatter the hopes of everyone, so he makes the hasty decision to go and find Jennifer. Paul finds her in Beverly Hills, Califorinia, she is not the Hollywood producer he expected her to have become, she is just a secretary, and she refuses an invitation to come back with him to see this nativity, even with two children accompanying him. The Headmistress also finds out the truth about the Hollywood lie, she cancels the show, and Mr. Poppy also goes away feeling dampened, but Paul assures him that they can still do a play. So all the children are ready to go, all the parents, the Headmistress, a Critic (Alan Carr) and the Mayor (Ricky Tomlinson) have been brought together, and the show goes on. There is a point where Mr. Shakespeare tries to spoil everything with the Hollywood revelation, but Jennifer arrives with her Hollywood colleague in a helicopter, they join the audience and the show continues. In the end, the show is a big hit against grizzly rival Shakespeare, whose show flopped, everyone is happy to join in with a song and dance, and Paul and Jennifer get back together for a happy Christmas. Also starring John Sessions as Mr. Lore, Britain's Got Talent's Jake Pratt as Olly, Britain's Got Talent Cheeky Monkeys member Krista Hyatt, Britain's Got Talent Cheeky Monkeys member Charlie Dixon and Britain's Got Talent's Bessie Cursons. Freeman makes a good hassled teacher, Ferris is brief but good, Carr was amusing in his time, Jensen was nice, and Wootton steals most of the show as the unusual and childish teaching assistant. I agree with the critics that the kids were natural talents on screen, it was nice to spot some familiar faces amongst them too, it is a little predictable throughout, but it is a still a fun family comedy film for the festivities. Worth watching!