Nativity! (film)

"Nativity!" redirects here. For other uses, see Nativity.

Nativity!
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Debbie Isitt [1]
Produced by	Nick Jones [1]
Written by	Debbie Isitt
Starring	Martin Freeman Ashley Jensen Jason Watkins Marc Wootton [2]Alan Carr
Music by	Nicky Ager Debbie Isitt
Cinematography	Sean Van Hales
Editing by	Nicky Ager
Studio	Mirrorball Films BBC Films Screen WM
Distributed by	Freestyle Releasing E1 Entertainment
Release date(s)	27 November 2009 (2009-11-27)
Running time	105 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	£5,187,402

Nativity! is a British comedy directed by Debbie Isitt and released on 27 November 2009. The film stars Martin Freeman and Ashley Jensen. The film is written by its director, Debbie Isitt, but is also partially improvised.^[3] The film premiered on 23 November 2009 in the SkyDome Arena, Coventry, England.^[4] It was released in cinemas on 27 November three weeks after rival festive film Disney's A Christmas Carol opened.

Plot

Mr Maddens (Martin Freeman) is a "frustrated, under-achieving primary school teacher".^[1] Every year Maddens' school competes with a local private school to see who can produce the best nativity play, Maddens' school always comes in second to Gordon Shakespeare's (Jason Watkins) private school, Oakmoor.

Maddens lies to Shakespeare about how a Hollywood producer, his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lore (Ashley Jensen), will be turning his production into a Hollywood film starring his pupils. Mr. Poppy (Marc Wootton) , an over-enthusiastic classroom assistant, spreads the rumour, and soon Mr. Maddens finds his lie is out of control. He even travels to America to try and persuade his ex-girlfriend to visit, and discovers she is a receptionist and not a film producer and is unsuccessful in his Hollywood aim.

But finally, with Mr. Poppy's help, the nativity is performed, and, despite a sabotage attempt by Shakespeare (who in trying to outdo Maddens creates a gruesome school performance for the private school, which flops), the play is a great success, the Hollywood producer visits it and Mr. Maddens and Jennifer are reunited.

Cast

• Martin Freeman as Mr Maddens, a primary school teacher trying to produce and direct a nativity play that will for once out do a rival school.^[1]
• Jason Watkins as Gordon Shakespeare, a private primary school teacher and long-time rival of Maddens.^[1]
• Ashley Jensen as Jennifer Lore, a Hollywood producer and ex-girlfriend of Maddens.^[1]
• Marc Wootton as Mr Poppy, a classroom assistant
• Alan Carr as a critic.^[5]
• Ricky Tomlinson as The Mayor
• Pam Ferris as Mrs. Bevans
• Jake Pratt as Alfie who made an appearance on Britain's Got Talent ^[6]
• The Cheeky Monkeys also made an appearance. They were finalists on the second series of Britain's Got Talent.^{[citation needed]}
• Clarke Peters played the hollywood director, the boss of Mr Maddens' ex-girlfriend.^[7]
• Bessie Cursons - Finalist from Britain's Got Talent, made an appearance as a student from Oakmoor School^{[citation needed]}
  
• Dan Sweet - made an appearance as a student from Oakmoor called Dennis

Box Office

Only released in the UK so far, the movie opened at number 5 taking £794,314 at the UK box office. In its 3rd week the movie rose to number 4 and in the end made £5,187,402.^[8]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Principal photography commences on Debbie Isitt's Nativity". BBC. 2008-08-12. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/08_august/12/nativity.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-13. 
2. ^ Thomas, Archie (2008-08-12). "Martin Freeman to star in 'Nativity'". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990349.html?categoryid=13&cs=1. Retrieved 2008-08-13. 
3. ^ PA Entertainment (2008-08-11). "BBC's Nativity comedy". Virgin Media. http://movienews.virginmedia.com/news/?news_id=81414. Retrieved 2008-08-13. 
4. ^ "Nativity night comes to Coventry". BBC Coventry & Warwickshire. BBC. 24 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/coventry/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8376000/8376025.stm. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
5. ^ McMullen, Marion (2008-09-17). "Alan Carr and Martin Freeman put Coventry on movie map". Coventry Telegraph. http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2008/09/17/alan-carr-and-martin-freeman-put-coventry-on-movie-map-92746-21837930/. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
6. ^ Stephenson, Susan (7 November 2008). "Jake's busy with film and TV roles". Scarborough Evening News. http://www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk/news/Jake39s-busy-with-film-and.4670675.jp. Retrieved 8 April 2009. 
7. ^ Harkness, Alister (2009-11-27). "Film review: Nativity!". The Scotsman. Johnston Press Digital Publishing. http://living.scotsman.com/movies/Film-review-Nativity.5863179.jp. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
8. ^ http://www.ukfilmcouncil.com/article/16448/UK-Box-Office-12---14-February-2010

External links

• Nativity! at the Internet Movie Database
• Nativity! at the British Comedy Guide