Emag.co.uk Entertainment News Leader
David Tennant plays duel roles in family Christmas comedy Nativity 2, in aid of Children in Need.
The first movie starred Martin Freeman as a mild mannered teacher who is tasked to produce the nativity play at his local under-achieving primary school. Martin Freeman was busy on an adventure in Middle Earth filming the Hobbit trilogy, so in stepped fellow national treasure David Tennant to take over leading man duties.
This time the kids of St. Bernadette’s choir aren’t competing against a local private school for best reviewed show in town, they are taking their talents to the ‘Sing a Song for Christmas’ competition.
Former Doctor Who star David Tennant plays Donald Peterson, a anxious but good hearted school teacher that is new to the area and has just started at St. Bernadette’s. Returning from the first film is classroom assistant Mr Poppy (Marc Wootton), who takes a shine to Donald and helps him settle into his new job.
Once the class and Mr Poppy hear about the competition, they whisk Donald off on a road trip to Wales to take part in the contest. Also entering the talent show is Donald’s identical twin brother Roderick, a snooty conductor who has been tutoring St Cuthbert’s College and plans on crushing the efforts of his estranged timid brother.
The St Bernadette’s road trip suffers a slight transport malfunction and the class becomes lost in the woods, will they make it to the show on time?
Director Debbie Isitt enjoys using improvisation on all her movies, only giving her cast a rough outline of the scene she leaves the rest up to the actors when the cameras start to roll. In addition to both Nativity films, she has used this method on the 2006 wedding comedy Confetti. Even if her projects to date have not fully worked, she should be applauded for her chosen style and generosity for getting behind a movie to support such a worthwhile charity.
Improvised comedy can be a tricky thing, add to that a bunch of young newcomers and a well worn story this could easily have been a complete disaster. Regrettably it’s not much of an improvement on the original and lacks most of the charm. David Tennant obviously had a great time playing two roles, but Roderick is a gleefully camp creation that at times verges on pantomime.
It’s not all bad, Jessica Hynes is terrific as the sarcastic talent show host and has some great one-liners. Ian McNeice pops up as Donald/Roderick’s father, the ever watchable Pam Ferris reprises her role as Mrs Bevans and Joanna Page is quietly endearing as Donald’s pregnant wife.
This is squarely aimed at the family market, younger audiences will enjoy it more than the grown ups who will likely find the antics of Mr Poppy irritating. In the spirit of Christmas this movie might appeal to exhausted shoppers and parents looking to entertain the kids whilst they sit in a warm darkened room for 2 hours
There is an unescapable feeling this would have been better served if it was a TV mini-series or a one off drama, there isn’t quite enough to it to make it work on the big screen.
Nativity 2 is out now in cinemas.
