It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

(Slight Spoilers Ahoy!)To be fair up front, Nativity! seems to hit all the buttons in being an inoffensive, emotional Christmas movie, filled with lots of children being themselves rather than acting at being movie kids. It has appealing characters (with at least one big exception), a plot the ankle biters can follow, no product placement (unless you count Coventry), and songs that they can sing along with. And yes, the ending is warm and fuzzy.Oh, but how annoying for me nevertheless! Freeman's character is a failed actor/director/producer (whatever he's supposed to be) who leaves entertainment and goes into teaching primary school kids. Am I supposed to pity him? Apparently so. A hell of a lot of people want to be teachers in the first place, a thankless job (one my wife does) and not to be seen as something you fall back on.But Freeman lies, and thanks to his idiot classroom assistant (more on him in a moment), everything snowballs, and though he has many opportunities to stop it by telling the truth (or at least telling another lie to stop it), he doesn't.The head teacher is a self-serving b**** out for personal recognition rather than for the children, a trait shared by many real-life head teachers out there (admittedly, this day and age requires that head teachers act more like CEOs than teachers, despite the word in their job title), and though she berates Freeman for taking away two of their children to America without proper release forms, she never bothered checking herself before they left (and the parents themselves never show up to wonder what happened to their kids, or even if they used passports or just went with Hollywood rules that say passports are only mentioned if integral to the plot) and then she cancels the play. But then later we see her crying because now she knows the truth and Hollywood isn't gonna come and give her some acclaim - and again I'm wondering at what point I'm supposed to be feeling sorry for her. But the absolute worst character was classroom assistant Mr Poppy, who plays the movie trope of Idiot With a Heart of Gold. Oh look at him, the child-like man who bonds with the kids - and is just as irresponsible as they are. He overhears Freeman's lies and spreads them to all and sundry, he takes the kids on trips without clearing it first with anyone, he forges permission slips to let Freeman take two of the kids to America and ends up getting him fired, and in the climax, risks several children having them perform stunts that in real life would give Health and Safety people strokes.Oh, but he has a kind, innocent heart! You know what, **** that. A kind, innocent heart and a penny is just about worth a penny. Even Freeman's character points out to Poppy that any idiot can be a friend to the kids, and Poppy has proved to be just that idiot. The only thing this movie does right is by clearing up how such a dimwit can get a position in a school - by being a relative of the head teacher, because nepotism is another fact of life with many of today's primary schools. Even my wife has admitted that, though she loved his character, she would quit her job before having him as a real classroom assistant. And what does this tell the kids watching it, and maybe expecting their classroom assistants to act like that instead of, you know, doing their jobs and supporting the teacher, not being the kids' friend?Okay, I get it, the movie is made for the younger crowd, and that's somehow supposed to excuse its faults. But strangely enough, I've found that you can make a decent movie and make it for the whole family, but that fact somehow seems to escape the notice of many filmmakers.

This is hands down my favourite Christmas film. I may be biased because part of what I love is that the primary school reminds me of my own so much and brings back memories but this film makes me cry every time I watch it, it may sound stupid but I love this film I even watch it in July. I always cry at the part when Mr Maddens is reading the letters from the children and I'm pretty sure it won't have this effect on everyone but I love it! I also cry at the end performance when the boy comes down on the death slide in 'Good News' because it is so amazing! I may just love it because of how much it reminds me of primary school - Mrs Bevan also reminds me of my head teacher. It may not be an Oscar winning blockbuster but it's very realistic - I think the fact that the film was partly improvised is what really makes this. The kids are adorable, of course, and the 'auditions' are hilarious. It gives a great portrayal of what primary school is like and i think the acting is also great. Overall, it's a great movie for families and a heartwarming watch to get you into the Christmas spirit. Personally, I think this one is best for British viewers since that's really what the humour is catered towards but I may be wrong, it's still worth trying for everyone.

Paul (Martin Freeman) was once an aspiring actor, like his friends. One man, Gordon Shakespeare, became a topnotch drama teacher and puts on an annual Nativity Play (very big in Britain) that garners lots of attention. Another friend and love interest, Jennifer, is in Hollywood, now a bigwig producer. But, alas, poor Paul. He is now an upper elementary teacher in a private, Catholic school, where his salary is low and his dreams have been dashed. Enter Mr. Poppy (Marc Wootton)! He is an unconventional teacher's aide that has been deposited on Paul by the well-meaning principal, Mrs. Bevan (Pam Ferris). It seems Poppy is a relative of hers and she's trying to help. Also, Mrs. B announces that Paul will be the director of THEIR school's Nativity Play this time round. Paul is flummoxed and irritated, none of his students seem to be able to sing or act. Neverthess, they adore Mr. Poppy at first sight and, in truth, his odd ways excite them to do better work. One day, most unluckily, Paul runs into the snooty Mr. Shakespeare, who tells of his future, elaborate productions. Loosing control, Paul blurts out that, well, Hollywood in the form of Jennifer is coming to see HIS, Paul's, play. What a fib! Word gets around soon, thanks to Mr. Poppy, who overhears the conversation. Newsfolk descend on Paul's school to find out more. But, how long will it be before the truth comes out? Will it cost Paul is job? This is one funny British Christmas film. Unlike the States, where religious presentations are forbidden under the Bill of Rights, Brits put on pageants each year honoring the true meaning of Xmas, the birth of Christ. (See Love Actually). Only, there is always a fresh take, an added sparkle. Paul's play is no different, sporting new songs and new characters, complete with real barnyard animals. There are FOUR kings in Paul's show, for example, in order to give a shy boy his chance. Mr. Poppy's lyrics and brainstorms also make for a unique re-telling. As such, Freeman and Wootton are perfect foils for each other, the one a straight arrow, the other a different drummer, and both give hilarious performances. All other cast members, including Ms. Ferris, are wonderful, too, as are the darling kids. Then, too, production values, from sets to costumes to script/direction add to the overall merriment here. Therefore, as one might guess, this viewer recommends a showing of Nativity in the near future of most film fans.

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!