Freeman plays another frustrated under-achiever, this time primary school teacher Paul Maddens, given the task of producing St. Bernadette's annual Christmas play. With Snootysville Elementary – or whatever they're called - determined to be the best dressed nativity play in town, Paul decides to up the stakes by claiming his ex-girlfriend-turned-Hollywood-player (Jensen) is flying in with plans to turn his Yuletide spectacular into a movie. And a book. Even though the two haven't spoken in years. Mad.
THE VERDICT: One of those broad British comedies that are quickly (best) forgotten, Nativity! arrives just in time to be ignored during the festive season. Hurrah.
Leading the festive non-cheer is good old Martin Freeman, the amicable Aldershot lad who won our hearts as Tim in The Office. But who then went on to make Hardware. And The Robinsons. And a bunch of feature films that veered between almost-great and undeniably-poor. Naturally, Nativity! belongs in the latter category.
As with writer/director Debbie Isitt's previous offering, Confetti, Nativity! is an improvised comedy that really could have done with a script. It's a little like having fake snow sprayed in your face for an hour and a half.
RATING: 1/5
Review by Paul Byrne