Interesteg What makes it different from others?

Peereddi I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Taha Avalos The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Franklie POSSIBLE SPOILERS, NOTHING THAT WILL RUIN THE STORY THOUGH: We've seen this movie twice now and will most likely watch it again next year. We love the actors (who are THE very best part of the movie) and the locations and the lack of gungy language and that the children seemed like every day fabulous children and the reminder that people rise to the occasion when given the chance.We could have done without the raunchy dance moves. ") And we could have done without the skewed Mary and Joseph love story especially when acted out by children. Both were a bit cringe-worthy. So, you have to put aside respectful manners and history-according-to-the-Bible for a bit and just enjoy the rest which is loads of fun.Clarke Peters dancing at the end is the best. Wish I had a photo.

l_rawjalaurence Let's get the caveats out of the way: Debbie Isitt's screenplay does contain certain implausibilities - two children miss school and jet off to Los Angeles with their teacher Mr. Maddens (Martin Freeman); while Maddens himself, together with his teaching assistant Poppy (Marc Wootton) stage their Nativity Play in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, complete with strobe lights, visual effects and lighting that is more characteristic of a Lloyd Webber musical than a school play. At one point the fuses blow; and the children continue to perform by candlelight. The sheer strength of the lighting suggests that they have also been given divine intervention so as to let the performance continue.Nonetheless, NATIVITY! is a really enjoyable piece of work; the kind of feel-good movie that makes you believe in human goodness, at least for a brief period. Freeman's Maddens is a carefully observed study in insecurity - a primary school teacher desperately trying to convince everyone that he has got over a lengthy love-affair with Jennifer Lore (Ashley Jensen(, but making a very poor job of it. His depression manifests itself in the way he treats his students - although fond of them, he finds it incredibly difficult to relate to them. This is where Poppy proves such a cathartic figure; through a combination of enthusiasm and sheer brute force he convinces Maddens to engage more fully in directing the play and to become more personally responsible for his students' welfare. There is one particularly moving sequence where Madden reads the letters written by his students to Santa Claus, and discovers that they know everything about his failed love- affair. Wiping the tears from his eyes, Madden exits stage left and resolves to produce as good a piece of work as he can.NATIVITY! contains its fair share of memorable cameos, from Alan Carr as a poison-pen critic with a fondness for eating during the performance, to Jason Watkins as a rival teacher in a private school determined to ensure that Maddens' production does not receive as favorable a critical opinion as his own. The message here is a simple one - in a class-ridden society such as Britain, it's not always the privileged children who prove most successful. Even those from less wealthy backgrounds, who have perhaps been dismissed as "useless" or incompetent, can be encouraged to produce something worthwhile, if only they are given the self-confidence to do so. The credits end with a dedication to "all inspirational teachers" in the audience, at whatever educational level. NATIVITY! proves what can be done if they are given the chance to inspire.

ExpendableMan There's a great idea for a film lurking in Nativity. A semi-improvised comedy built around the premise of two rival drama teachers going head- to-head during Christmas play season, there's an absolute wealth of potential to be had here. Plus it has Martin Freeman doing that perpetually exasperated thing with lots of familiar faces from the British comedy scene, some genuinely likable young kids and a charming, Richard Curtis-vibe underpinning it. What could possibly go wrong?Well, somehow the pieces just don't come together. It's lacking in laughs or memorable dialogue and is filled with scenes that don't just stretch credibility, but rip it to pieces like the family cat getting into the Christmas presents. Teachers encourage mass brawls between two primary school classes, sneak kids into the delivery room at a maternity hospital and even abduct two ten year olds and fly them to California with no repercussions from the parents at all. Well they did bring them back, so I guess it's all okay. There's a chance for a rousing finale with the final production as well but it outstays its welcome for too long. And that's without mentioning Mark Wootton's infuriating teaching assistant Mr. Poppy, a passive- aggressive man-child more juvenile than the ankle biters he's supposed to be looking after. By the time he's dangling a child from a Cathedral spire it all becomes clear, this is more "Surviving Christmas" than "It's A Wonderful Life." Just play trivial pursuit with your nan again.

smithmdee 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!