Finally decided to write a review in the lead up to Christmas to get used to the layout. And what better film to review than a Christmas film like 'Nativity!', being somebody who likes Christmas films and some of the cast members.'Nativity!' turned out to be a nice charming film. Not a Christmas cracker by all means, there are better Christmas films out there ('It's a Wonderful Life', the Alastair Sim 'Christmas Carol' and the original 'Miracle on 34th Street'). It's also hardly a piece of coal at the bottom of your stocking, there are also far worse of anything to do with Christmas like 1991's 'The Christmas Tree' and 'The Christmas Foal'. 'Nativity!' clearly knew what it wanted to be and never tried to do any more than needed, also achieving the main objectives of a successful film.It's not perfect. The story is very predictable in places, with it not doing much new with some of its elements. The film also has times where momentum is lost, with the finale for example going on longer than needed. Am not a massive fan of Alan Carr, so was not sure what to make of his small role. There is so much to enjoy in 'Nativity!'. In particular the splendid cast. Martin Freeman is in a role that he's perfect for. Marc Wooton is clearly enjoying himself and has his fair share of scene-stealing moments. Pam Ferris seems to do no wrong, and a big shout out has to go to the children. They are so natural and have great comic timing, they not only are more than a match for the adults but even upstage them.'Nativity!' looks nice enough in its own simple, un-flashy way. The music is very catchy and gives a real sense of Christmas, while for all the story imperfections the film has a lot of spirit and energy throughout.A decent script always helps, and 'Nativity!' has that. It has sparkling comic elements and a very warm heart and sweet charm, without being too sentimental.In summary, while not mind-blowing 'Nativity!' is a festive charmer that makes do for the festive season and the lead up to it. 7/10 Bethany Cox

As a previous reviewer has said, this film was amazing. I am not sure what I expected, but as its nearly Christmas I thought lets watch a christmassy movie. Without giving too much plot away, suffice it to say that the story line was simple but effective. Loads of famous faces in there, but for me the kids were just brilliant. Not your normal stage school stuff, but they appeared like normal children from a normal school having a laugh and making a nativity play for real, but this play was a blockbuster production. Brilliantly done and not only do you laugh but you cry as well. One little chappy, tiny blonde boy was absolutely adorable. and in one scene when all the little girls want to be Mary....well watch it....absolute genius! This is by far one of the nicest feel good movies in a long time, and very heart warming. Watch it alone, watch it with others. you wont be sorry. Merry Christmas everyone!

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.

This movie is playing on Showtime, and I've been laid up in bed with nothing much to do but read, surf the web and watch TV, so thank god for Showtime!! This movie initially was something I avoided, since I usually really hate kid movies. But strike that; I learned that I really hated *American* kid movies; British kiddie films (and romcoms) are so much better and much more fun. Although Brit humour is right up front, these movies tend not to be dripping with the kind of bottomless cynicism and coy promotion of greedy materialism that lies at the heart of most American movies aimed at the rated G set.For example, in Nativity!, all the kids come from decidedly the underprivileged and underdog working classes, and their chief rival is a posh upper-class school. In an American film, the gold at the heart of the rainbow would have been literally that: gold. The kids would somehow end up fabulously rich at the end, and their poor, belabored working class parents would now able to buy them everything they could possibly want at Christmastime--the true American dream. In Nativity!, all they really want to do is put on a wicked good holiday show and maybe get their depressed teacher back with his girl. Christmas is not nearly as commercialized and monetized in Europe and the UK, and this aspect is very refreshing whilst watching a movie about the one season that American has utterly and completely ruined. I'm usually quite the grinch about our holiday season, but watching this movie made me happy that all the world is not American. (I'm waiting for someone to call me un-American and a Euro Socialist, hee hee) The musical scene at the end; the Nativity play in all its glory, is stupendous. Simply put, the songs are so catchy that I actually had to buy the soundtrack, which will be a neat from-leftfield addition to the usual hackneyed Christmas music selection. (Note to Americans: in general, the Brits have it all over us in the Xmas music department. They have a yearly holiday music competition, and some pretty great songs have come out of it. Whenever I play my Brit Xmas CDs, everyone is instantly singing along to songs they've heard for the first time, and asking me who it is.) The staging of the kids and the way they handled modernizing the nativity theme for the 7-13 set was really quite amazing. For instance, all of the kids want to please their parents who've never had a chance at anything grest, and want to play the Mary or Joseph role. So, the teacher devises a way in which they ALL can individually be Mary and Joseph in the staging of one of the central musical numbers. Great costumes and sets, and I liked that the kids were NOT too-cutesy, been-there-done-that Hollywood kid pros, as would have been the case in anything American. (One reviewer expressed relief in being able to take her pre-teen girl to see something fun that didn't feature Hanna Montana and shopping: too true!) Some of the kids really can sing, and the ones who are just OK make up for it in pure enjoyment of what they're doing. As others have mentioned, I LOVED the little sprite who played Bob, with his funny strong country accent and rock-n-roll attitude. I imagine I'll be seeing more of that kid; he's too cute and full of a natural energy to slip through the cracks.