Yesterday, selected Cineworld cinemas ran preview screenings of David Tennant's new film Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger in aid of BBC Children In Need. David-Tennant.com attended one of them and have returned full of Christmas cheer and with a brand new review.
Nativity 2: Danger In The Manger
In 2009, the modest family film Nativity! introduced us to the riotous kids of St. Bernadette’s
Primary School in Coventry, their teacher Mr. Maddens (Martin Freeman) and a
classroom assistant unlike any other in Mr. Poppy (Marc Wootton). It proved to
be a home-grown Christmas hit, providing families with festive, feel good fun
and a heart-warming story of adults and children finding their own self-belief
and talents.
Three years later, the sequel is about to open in cinema
screens nationwide. With Martin Freeman off seeking dragon treasure in Middle
Earth it falls to David Tennant to step into the chaotic world of St.
Bernadette’s as new teacher Donald Peterson who has just moved to the area with
his very pregnant wife Sarah (Joanna Page). Mr. Poppy has been left in charge
of the class in the absence of a proper teacher, and the school day is full of
farting contests, silly string wars and secret auditions for the Song For
Christmas competition, entry to which is promptly banned by Mrs. Bevans (Pam
Ferris).Unlike previous replacements for Mr. Maddens, Mr. Peterson manages to
survive beyond the first day, despite finding a shrine dedicated to his
predecessor and dealing with a classroom full of babies. He even thinks he has
managed to talk the ever-enthusiastic Mr. Poppy out of the planned trip to
compete in the Song For Christmas contest, but Mr. Poppy has his own ideas
about that and the anxious teacher is soon right out of his comfort zone as
part of an ill-advised and unauthorised ride across Wales with half of the
class and a baby.
David Tennant takes a dual role in the film, also playing
Mr. Peterson’s twin Roderick. Roderick Peterson is a huge success, a household
name with awards and international recognition, much to the pride of their overbearing
and unpleasant father (Ian McNeice). So not only will St. Bernadette’s be up
against previous rivals Oakmoor School, led by Gordon Shakespeare (played with exuberant
flair by Jason Watkins) but, to Donald’s horror, they will also be in
competition with the elitist St. Cuthbert’s choir led by his estranged brother. Roderick, snooty, cold, selfish and not
adverse to bending the rules to get what he wants (“We do not cheat, we succeed” he icily informs one of his choristers) is the product of some of Mr.
Peterson Snr’s more dubious parenting techniques, the same techniques that have
left the other twin fearful of challenge and growth.
Director Debbie Isitt has taken the themes from the first
film and expanded upon them, sending her protagonists on a physical journey as
well as their own personal journey of discovery. Her characters face challenges
that lead them to have faith in themselves and to believe that they can achieve
anything they want. The theme of family is also very apparent, and the role of
the father is a particular focus, with a number of the characters either
missing fathers or being affected by their parent’s actions. It is all part of
Donald’s journey from the over-anxious character we meet at the outset as he
prepares for fatherhood and starts to believe in his own gifts and talents.
But alongside the intrinsic messages, the film is a very
likeable and unashamed piece of Christmas fun, with the added bonus of having
some very accomplished actors on board. The improvised performances are strong and
natural and it’s clear that the cast were having a lot of enjoyment exploring
their roles. David Tennant as Donald may be a little over the top with the
frustrated yelling at times, but he seems to be relishing the challenge of the
two roles so much, giving fans two versions of David to enjoy: one ruffle-haired, permanently harassed and
endearingly loveable, the other smooth, bespectacled, and ever so slightly evil,
that we can surely overlook that. Marc Wootton is as hilarious and unpredictable
as ever in the role of the anarchic Mr. Poppy but he is given a poignant side
that explains perhaps his need to remain in the safety of childhood. Joanna
Page gives Sarah Peterson a reassuringly strong side, more than the quiet little wife in the
background but one who is strong enough to stick up for her husband when he
needs her. The children are just the right side of cute, being allowed free
rein to be themselves rather than give voice to mawkish adult-scripted lines. A
Christmas Song competition, of course, needs credible Christmas songs, and the
ones on show here are beautifully considered: the Phil Spector-like Counting Down, carbon copies of Justin
Bieber and N-Dubz, the high choral number Peace
And Love and of course the show-stopping and extremely catchy Born In The Hay. The contest is hosted by superstar Angel Matthews, played in fabulous spiteful style by Jessica Hynes, who makes no secret of her crush on Roderick.
Primarily the film is aimed at children, so there’s plenty
of toilet humour and slapstick and teachers getting tied up or pelted with
eggs. But there’s also enough quality fun going on to appeal to all ages and
there are plenty of laughs throughout. Moreover there is the strong moral
message that from humility comes success, and that success can come to anyone
who believes hard enough. There are admittedly one or two instances where
events are questionable. Where, for instance, did Mr. Poppy stumble across a
London Duck Bus in the middle of Coventry? And the ending itself requires some
suspension of disbelief. Though maybe not. If you go in expecting just what
this film is meant to be - a good, old-fashioned movie that the whole family
can enjoy at Christmas - then you will surely accept that a Christmas miracle
has taken place and that the conclusion is then exactly as it should be. It’s got
to be a sad old world if we can’t expect a bit of magic at Christmas. And
there’s a flying donkey out there somewhere who wholeheartedly agrees with
that.
Nativity 2: Danger In
The Manger goes on general release on Friday 23rd November
Comments
Post a Comment