Although under increasing pressure from the political correctness brigade, the nativity play has been a Christmas staple in primary schools since Victorian times while the tradition itself dates back as far as 1223.
Everyone has a story to tell about their own or their children’s nativity play, but few are likely to have been as fraught or as funny as the one in this new improvised comedy from Coventry director Debbie Isitt.
A failed actor and constant loser, Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) now teaches at a Coventry primary school where the retiring headmistress (Pam Ferris) has not only saddled him with her over-enthusiastic puppydog nephew, Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton), as classroom assistant but also ordered him to produce this year’s nativity play.
Apart from the fact Mr Maddens has hated Christmas ever since girlfriend Jennifer (Ugly Betty star Ashley Jensen) dumped him under the mistletoe and went to Hollywood to become a film producer, he’s refused to have anything to do with the annual play after his last production received a vicious review from the local drama critic (Alan Carr) while those of long time rival Gordon Shakespeare (Jason Watkins), drama teacher at the nearby posh private school, continue to get showered with praise. And besides, the kids at St Bernadette’s couldn’t act their way out of a paper bag!
However, when Mr Maddens bumps into the smug Mr Shakespeare, he gets so annoyed that he boasts that Jennifer is coming to make a movie about it. Unfortunately, Mr Poppy overhears and tells the children they’re about to become film stars! Now, with an army of would be Marys and Josephs, pushy parents, the Mayor (Ricky Tomlinson), and the local media to contend with, somehow he has get back in touch with Jennifer and try and make their dreams come true.
The scene stealing youngsters are irresistibly cute, Freeman and Wooton are hilarious and the all singing all dancing nativity spectacular finale in Coventry Cathedral, complete with real donkey, is dazzlingly fabulous. A brilliant family film and one of the year’s funniest comedies, it’s one big heartwarming feelgood festive treat from start to finish. See it twice!