Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!

Having enjoyed the original 'Nativity' I was slightly dubious about this sequel but I'm pleased to say that all involved have done a great job and that it more than stands up against the previous instalment. David Tennant does well replacing Martin Freeman in the lead and his story is both funny and moving throughout. As with the original it is Marc Wootton's Mr Poppy who steals the show and their chemistry is one of the film's strong points. While there is perhaps not as much depth to this film as the original it remains an enjoyable film that can entertain all the family and I for one look forward to the planned sequel coming to cinemas next Christmas.

Rumour has it that Guantanamo Bay use these Nativity films for torture. I see why. Its just inhumane. Please do not subject your kids to this mental torture as they could easily maintain brain damage for life. What Debbie Isitt and her amateur film crew do is they obtain the worst singing/atonal kids to sing about Christmas and happiness, and snow and Santa and Lucifer Son of Satan and family togetherness and Jesus. There's also a bit where they kidnap a baby and 14 kids or something like that. Seeing as how annoying the kids where, I was hoping I was watching the news. The good thing is that I never want kids now. This may save me misery in the future. This could be a more humane way of treating the China 1 child policy, just show every citizen this dirge and no- one will reproduce. In comparison, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is our lord and saviour. Nativity 2 is so bad I am genuinely thinking of starting a mini-cult worshipping Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Anyone want to join? Nice to see a 5 star performance by David Tennant's stunt double. I mean, when North Korea show off kid's talents on television they have them play tunes on the guitar. And you know what? They do it properly unlike our irritating, stuck-up, snotty-nosed, little brats. I think we, as a country, need to seriously think about our future. These kids will run the country one day... and that is something (like climate change and the oil crisis) we should really ponder and is a serious imminent threat.

Watch a 2 hour child abduction documentary that teaches kids the valuable lesson that following a madchild psychopath and enabler through the CPS's worst nightmare!

It is better than suggested on here. There is a lot of crap on the Hallmark and Christmas channels that average 5 or 6/10 and this a lot better than those. It is not great by any stretch but the production and acting is much better and although it took too long to get to the ending, there are more than enough laughs to make it worthwhile.

This time around from the first to the the second film this one had chemistry between the two leads. Tennant hit this and left it with a great feel good film. The storyline was lovely it created a feel good feeling where you could see the talent had fun filming it.

Having never seen the first movie, I had no idea what to expect. I had no I tension of seeing this, because the the trailer looked awful, but my daughter is in charge so I had no choice. And while it's not the best film going, and it's about fifteen minutes too long, it was diverting and mildly amusing at times. Tennent plays the new teacher, who carries around a half heart picture of his twin, and whose wife is heavily pregnant. When he arrives at the school, his class are already preparing for the song for Christmas competition, which Mr Poppy is eager to do.... So the film is basically a mix of road trip, and the X factor, with a lot of cute kids singing pretty awful songs, but hey,it's a Christmas movie, so it's heart is in the right place. If you can get past the fact that a lot of the characters would get into trouble by the police for kidnapping, baby snatching, leaving kids behind and not giving it a second thought and several other crimes, it's quite endearing stuff. Tennent is good in his role, but he's playing second fiddle to the guy who plays Mr Poppy. And believe me, he's the marmite of acting, you either love him or hate him, and thankfully, I tolerated the idiot, because he had a heart of gold really. So all in all, it's predictable stuff, almost verging on pantomime in some instants, the ending is what you would expect, child birth in a stable in full view of children did surprise me though. But the fact that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would surprised me the most. A pleasant, totally inoffensive family movie, and those are rare....

After the pleasing (justified) reaction to 2009s Nativity!, it's not unsurprising to find that two further films would follow it, starting with this, the first of the sequels. Formula remains the same as the first film, here we have David Tennant (great coup by writer and director Debbie Isitt to get him in a dual role) as an harangued teacher out on the road in charge of kiddies as they head towards the National 'Song for Christmas' Competition. Along side him, pulling the the emotional and cunning mental strings, is man-child Mr. Poppy (Marc Wooton once again on film stealing form), enter mirth, poignancy and a raft of engaging kiddies guaranteed to warm the cockles during Yuletide. This is undeniably Isitt and her team treading on safe ground, which is both a blessing and a curse. For although the finale here - as regards the competition - has a different twist to the first film, it still feels like a redux of that picture - this is because it is. There's also a problem in that the last third is crammed packed with the competition song entries, not to say the songs and routines aren't great (Isitt and editor Nicky Ager co-writing), they are, and it's a nice cross reference of different styles of music. It's just that there comes a point when it veers close to being filler to pad the pic out to over 100 minutes of film, where much of the comedic human drama gets lost in the mix. However, it's still a warm film, and a real foot tapper that's nice to get involved with at Christmas time. 6/10

Found the first 'Nativity!' film enjoyable for what it was. It was nothing mind-blowing, but achieved what it set out to do well and didn't try to be any more than it was. The same goes with its inferior but not that bad sequel 'Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger'. 'Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger' is easier to criticise and is far from a great film, or at least to me that was the case. Am not going to resort to spouting the ridiculous and untrue "it's a kids film" excuse, especially considering that it's a family film not a kids one so adults are more than entitled to judge. Plus coming from somebody who loves Christmas and a lot of festive films it is pretty condescending and immature to accuse those who didn't like it as much of being a scrooge. With that being said it will appeal to children, who are very likely to love it, while being more divisive by adult standards. It is easy to see why 'Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger' has been criticised. The story is very silly and formulaic, even by younger viewer standards. It also suffers at times from pacing issues, some parts are too hectic and then other parts lose momentum and drag, including the once again over-extended finale. The improvisatory nature of the script is not always as natural this time round, some awkward moments, and there is a tendency for the schmaltz to go too over-the-top and sickeningly twee. Marc Wooton was a scene stealer in the first 'Nativity!' film, here he wildly overplays and it is largely to do with how the character is written. However, David Tennant is a very game replacement for Martin Freeman and Pam Ferris as ever is splendid. Up-staging them, and the best thing about the film, are the children, once again so easy in presence and with such great comic timing and individuality. 'Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger' looks nice enough in its own simple, un-flashy way. The music is very catchy and gives a real sense of Christmas and there is a nice spirit in the scenes where the pacing doesn't hinder it. The film does have a warm heart and sweet well-intentioned charm, along with some amusing, if not as sparkling as before, comic elements. Overall, not great but not that bad. It's slightly above "on the fence" for me. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Saw the first one which was OK, not brilliant, but OK. This is drivel. I'd forgotten how annoying is Mr Poppy. Why is seeing an adult behaving like a 6 year old in the slightest bit funny? Discovering he can then drive is frightening, and ridiculous (a really obvious bit of product placement for London duck tours here). The message is class warfare at its worst - posh private school kids deserve to lose, hurry for the talentless state school kids with a heart. So... is it funny for under 10's? Quite possibly if they are rather unusual (most kids HATE being patronised, and that's what this film does to children), mine didn't find it that funny or cute. Nothing else to add really, off to watch Kick Ass 2 here and remind myself that I'm an adult.

Some people who've reviewed this film have absolutely no Christmas spirit. "It's a film written for kids by kids" what the hell is wrong with that?! Who has the most Christmas spirit? KIDS! Duh....I love Christmas and I love Mr Poppy and David Tennant....this is an incredibly adorable film with a very cheesy theme based around 2 families- Mr Poppy and his kids and David Tennant and his wife and unborn children...well born by the end of the film. I don't really see how anyone can insult a film which portrays Christmas spirit through the eyes of children and Mr Poppy :-P I loved the first Nativity film and I was quite terrified that this film was going to be awful because it might've killed Nativity for me but to my surprise it was just the same as the first. Cheesy; based around a goofball teacher and a group of children with TONS of Christmas spirit with the added bonus of David Tennant!!! I loved it. The adventure is more extreme and sweeter and it is SO freakin cute!! It's the perfect Christmas movie....and anyone who heckles it has no Christmas spirit :-P