Nativity! (film)
| Nativity! | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| 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 |
| 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.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Paul Maddens (Martin Freeman) is a "frustrated, under-achieving primary school teacher".[1] Every year St Bernadette's school competes with a local private school (Oakmoor) to see who can produce the best nativity play. Maddens is chosen to create the Nativity play, but he doesn't like Christmas because his ex-girlfriend moved to Hollywood. Maddens still loves his ex-girlfriend but she split up with him when he was about to propose. Maddens went to drama school with his ex-girlfriend and another teacher Gordon Shakespeare (Jason Watkins). The headteacher Mrs Bevans (Pam Ferris) gives him a new class teaching assistant called Desmond Poppy who turns out to be her nephew. St Bernadette's always comes in second to Gordon Shakespeare's 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. Poppy (Marc Wootton), an over-enthusiastic classroom assistant, spreads the rumour, and soon Maddens finds his lie is out of control. He even travels to America to try to persuade his ex-girlfriend to visit, and discovers she is a secretary and not a film producer and is unsuccessful in his Hollywood aim. To make the Nativity seem more real, Mr Poppy takes the children to see a woman giving birth (both teachers fainted) and to go to a farm to see the animals that in the story come up to the manger to see the baby Jesus.
But finally, with 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 Mr Parker visits the play and Maddens and Jennifer are reunited. Happily ever after.
The film finishes with Mr Maddens and his girlfriend Jennifer decorating the outside of Mr Maddens house with Christmas lights.
[edit] Cast
- Martin Freeman as Paul 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 secretary and ex-girlfriend of Maddens.[1]
- Marc Wootton as Desmond Poppy, a classroom assistant
- Alan Carr as a critic.[5]
- Ricky Tomlinson as The Mayor
- Pam Ferris as Mrs Bevans
- Clarke Peters as Mr Parker a hollywood director, the boss of Maddens' ex-girlfriend Jennifer[6]
Maddens' Class
- Alexandra Allen as Cleo
- Ben Wilby as Bob
- Bernard Mensah as TJ
- Brandon McDonald as Oli
- Cadi Mullane as Crystal
- Caitlin Cronin as Lucy
- Dominic McKernan as Dan
- Ellie Coldicutt as Beth
- Faye Dolan as Jade
- James Warner as Buddy
- Jake Pratt as Alfie
- Joe Lane as Edward
- Joshan Patel as Bill
- Krista Hyatt as Becky
- Maeve Dolan as Sam
- Michael McAuley as William
- Milly Webb as Neve
- Morgan Brennan as Charlotte
- Rebecca Maguir as Saffron
- Reece Stowe as Fraser
- Rhyannon Jones as Alice
- Sam Tott as Matt
- Sydney Isitt-Ager as Sadie
- Thomas McGaritty as Zack
- Oscar Steer as Auditionee
- Harvey Flanagan as Auditionee
Mr. Shakespear's Class
- Aidofe McLeod as Grace
- Anna Price as Ellen
- Arun Nahar as Jake
- Bessie Cursons as Chrisry
- Bethany Carter as Daisy
- Charlie Dixon as Thomas
- Cherie Ng as Nicola
- Eleanor Bonas as Rachel
- Francesca York as Caroline
- Freddie Watkins as Sebastian
- Georgina Owen as Emily
- Hannah Ciotknowski as Elizabeth
- Harriet Kilner as Charlotte
- Hayley Downing as Victoria
- Imogen Stern as Phoebe
- Katie Maguire as Megan
- Katie Stafford as Molly
- Lauren Downing as Joanne
- Lily-Rose Sharry as Lynette
- Michael Brown as Charles
- Molly Burton as Catherine
- Mi Tuulikki Kelly as Lorna
- Safiya Asharia as Sophie
- Salim Zayyan as Percival
- Taylor Drew as Harry
Extra's Chris Reynolds as "an extra"
[edit] 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.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ PA Entertainment (2008-08-11). "BBC's Nativity comedy". Virgin Media. http://movienews.virginmedia.com/news/?news_id=81414. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ http://www.ukfilmcouncil.com/article/16448/UK-Box-Office-12---14-February-2010
[edit] External links
- Nativity! at the Internet Movie Database
- Nativity! at the British Comedy Guide
