Nativity review

A story too sugar-sweet, even for Christmas

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Glug a pint of seasonal spirit before watching Debbie Isitt’s mish-mash of show-must-goon generics, bittersweet Brit-comedy realism and Hollywood endings.

Two primary school teachers compete over their nativity plays; when Martin Freeman’s down-trodden Mr Maddens boasts that “Hollywood” will attend his in the shape of his now-Stateside ex (Ashley Jensen), his fib spawns unwanted expectation.

Unfortunately, likeable lead turns from Freeman and Marc Wootton can’t fix the plot holes.

The half-baked twists presume on our goodwill, which snaps when the closing production piece outstays its welcome.

Freelance writer

Kevin Harley is a freelance journalist with bylines at Total Film, Radio Times, The List, and others, specializing in film and music coverage. He can most commonly be found writing movie reviews and previews at GamesRadar+.