Nativity

Nativity

Starring: Martin Freeman, Martin Wooton, Ashley Jensen, Jason Watkins, Ricky Tomlinson, Alan Carr

Director: Debbie Isitt

Reviewed by: Conor Flynn







Director Debbie Isitt highly impressed with her last feature, the spectacular, but criminally ignored ‘Confetti’. The main element which made the film work so well was its use of improvisation, much like that used by director Christopher Guest or Mike Leigh. Although the idea wasn’t exactly fresh, the results led to some of the funniest British comedy in years, thanks to great acting and some very assured direction from Isitt. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for her latest feature.

Martin Freeman plays primary school teacher Mr. Madden. Every year sees a competition between his school St. Bernadette’s and that of another rival school lead by Gordon Shakespeare (Watkins). Their aim is to receive a five star review from a snobbish theatre critic who writes for a local paper. Soon Mr. Madden is placed alongside Mr. Poppy, a classroom assistant, who seems to have a man-child mentality. After Mr. Madden idly brags to Shakespeare about his ex-girlfriend’s involvement, who allegedly is a big time film producer; he soon discovers that Mr. Poppy has told everyone that ‘Hollywood’ is helping St. Bernadette’s with their nativity play…

Director Isitt invites back an acting ensemble who worked with her on previous films; unfortunately the results completely misfire this time around. As stated already, the film was partially improvised and it shows. A haggard looking Martin Freeman stumbles along, occasionally flubbing through his lines. Ashley Jensen is given little to do and looks lost. To top this all off is a co-star turn by Martin Wooton, whose caricature of Mr. Poppy is as irksome as it sounds. The only actors left unblemished are Ricky Tomlinson as the local mayor and Alan Carr as the snooty theatre critic. The children fare better than most of the adults, but their performances seem to be cut from a kitchen sink drama. Put simply, the balance between comedy and drama is highly uneven, but this isn’t the worst part.

The characters also have a nauseating fixation with everything Hollywood. Granted if ‘Hollywood’ were to come to any small area, it would be seen as huge coup in the time of a recession, however, most of the characters in the film refer to Hollywood as an individual, putting it on a level of sheer idolatry. This could have been used to critique Hollywood’s commercialisation of Christmas, but it misses the mark, ending up as ugly and crass as the majority of Hollywood films which get thrown out every year specifically to capitalise on this festive event.

After the brilliance of ‘Confetti,’ Nativity can be seen is a major letdown. A great idea is scuppered by a lack of cohesive direction. Children might get some enjoyment from the juvenile antics of Mr. Poppy, but most adults will want to claw their eyes out. A real disappointment this one…