"Really Good News"
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What You Need To Know:
NATIVITY! is a feel-good British comedy about Paul, a grumpy school teacher at St. Bernadette who is forced to reluctantly stage the annual Nativity play. To save face, Paul lies about the production, saying a Hollywood crew is going to film it. Soon, the whole community is motivated to stage the most contemporary, fun musical rendition of the Nativity story ever. And, it honors Jesus Christ.
NATIVITY! became a very popular movie in England. It is fun, lightweight, enjoyable, heartrending, sometimes amateurish filmmaking. Beating out several serious dramas in England, it shows people will choose heartwarming, fun movies when given the opportunity, even when those movies talk about Jesus. The children are terrific, although they cannot act. The movie turns the amateur qualities into an asset. The humor is sometimes strained, but often laugh-out-loud funny. Paul’s character arc is terrific. The Nativity story is presented as good news, with the kids laughing and enjoying the birth of Jesus. Lying is rebuked. Not taking responsibility is rebuked. NATIVITY! is very moral and Christian at its core, but all the morality and all the Christianity are presented in a winsome, lovable way.
Content:
(CCC, BBB, V, M) Very strong Christian, biblical, moral worldview about a high school teacher who is told by his principal to put on a Nativity play; no foul language; some silly pratfalls; no sex; no nudity; no alcohol; no smoking; and, a man is caught lying, lying is strongly rebuked, not taking responsibility is strongly rebuked.
More Detail:
NATIVITY! is one of those feel-good British comedies that is reminiscent of the early days of Peter Sellers.
Paul Maddens, an elementary school teacher, narrates his story. In their high school, Paul, Jennifer, and Gordon starred in the yearly Nativity play. Paul and Jennifer were an item, and he was prepared to propose to her at Christmas time, when she suddenly decides to go to Hollywood to become an executive producer. Gordon becomes an elementary school teacher at Oakmore. Every year, he wins the Nativity play competition with his brilliant productions. Paul, on the other hand, hates Christmas because Jennifer left him at Christmas time and is a sullen, grumpy elementary school teacher at St. Bernadette. Paul believes that St. Bernadette and its students are good for nothing. He is the only one on his block with no Christmas decorations.
Paul’s world changes when St. Bernadette’s retiring principal tells him he has to produce the annual Nativity play. She gives him a teaching assistant who is completely over the top, Desmond Poppy. Desmond is more like a hyper-active kid himself.
One day when Paul runs into Gordon, he lies, telling Gordon that he is doing the Nativity play and that Jennifer is a rich and famous Hollywood executive who is going to come back with a Hollywood film crew and film, the play. Desmond overhears this and tells everyone. Soon, the whole town is ready to be discovered by Hollywood.
With Desmond’s silly guidance, St. Bernadette mounts the most contemporary, fun musical rendition of the Nativity ever. And, it honors Jesus Christ.
NATIVITY! became a very popular movie in England. It breaks all the rules. It is fun, lightweight, enjoyable, heartrending, amateurish filmmaking, but it is like a comedy counterpart to FIREPROOF, beating out several serious dramas in England, it shows people will choose heartwarming, fun movies when given the opportunity, even when those movies talk about Jesus. The children are terrific, although they cannot act. The movie turns the amateur qualities into an asset. The humor is sometimes strained, but often surprisingly laugh-out-loud funny. Paul’s character arc is terrific.
The Nativity story is presented as really good news, with the kids laughing, singing, and enjoying the birth of Jesus. Lying is rebuked. Not taking responsibility is rebuked. This movie is very moral and Christian at its core, but all the morality and Christianity is presented in a winsome, lovable way. Bravo!
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
