Barry Stevens 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.

karensusanw 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!

Prismark10 Nativity! is a middling film which is partly improvised by the cast which is how writer/director Debbie Isitt works.Martin Freeman plays Paul Maddens a failed actor now an underachieving primary school teacher. His former girlfriend left him some years ago and made it big in Hollywood.Now Paul has been put in charge to direct the Nativity play and vies to outdo a rival school whose head teacher he knew at University and rather envies. Paul lies that Hollywood casting agent will come to see the Nativity play which escalates out of control thanks to the man-child classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wooton.)Paul ends up going to Hollywood to visit his ex (Ashley Jensen) and has to resort to get her to pull a few favours for him.In its favour Both Jensen and Freeman give a natural and charming performance which is more than the script (improvised or not) deserves. It is a silly plot and a film about the acting standards of a nativity play does not inspire me as someone who had to sit through a few as a father.Worse still Wooton's overacting as Mr Poppy had me wishing that a berserk driver would enter the film and run him over. Not sure how his character ever passed the criminal records checks in the first place.Still the film has become something of a regular Christmas film on television without the sickly syrup of the American Christmas films. The one-upmanship between the two school rivals keeps the story going.

Maz Murdoch (asda-man) Part of Nativity's charm is that it looks like an average TV drama, especially initially with its TV actors and production values, but as the film goes on you start to realise that this is so much better than a TV comedy drama Christmas special on BBC2. "Nativity!" is a Christmas classic, it's something adults and children can equally find funny with it's charming characters and uplifting spirit.Martin Freeman plays a likably grumpy teacher who doesn't think much to Christmas after his girlfriend left him to be a Hollywood producer on Christmas day. Enter the star of the show Mr.Poppy! The amazingly hilarious dim-witted teaching assistant who plays a classic comedy character who you can't help but love. Mr.Shakespeare is also a brilliant panto villain who leads his fairly accurate, if not belated, private school to win 5 star reviews. That is until Mr.Poppy blurts out to everyone Martin Freeman's lie that a Hollywood producer is coming to film their pathetic attempt of a nativity.From here on it's a fight to put on the best nativity play the world has ever seen and try to attract Hollywood to come and see them. "Nativity!" is so sickly you need a bucket ready at the end of the film, as you're stomach starts to dance around. But is also so amazingly uplifting that you can't help but love it! It's completely over the top nonsense with plenty of "as if!" moments but that's all part of the charm. Alan Carr also plays a brilliant nativity critic.You'll be lucky to find a more jolly, funny and charming Christmas film than this. It's brilliant British comedy with a fantastic cast that will have you howling with laughter. The final 20 minutes feature incredibly catchy songs and hundreds of health and safety knock-outs. Some might say that it gets a bit too much, but for me it was pure charming escapism. "Nativity!" isn't perfect but I think that's the message of the film, nothing's perfect, just take things for what they are.