Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!

5.4

2012

1h 45m

ComedyFamily

Overview

This sequel to the popular British comedy sees a new teacher (David Tennant) take over. When he enters his school in the National 'Song for Christmas' Competition, he and his pregnant wife, and the schoolchildren, embark on an epic road trip that ends up with a birth and a donkey, where he must embrace his fears and become a hero.

Trailer

Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! - Trailer Official

Cast

Donald / Roderick Peterson

David Tennant

Donald / Roderick Peterson

Mr. Poppy

Marc Wootton

Mr. Poppy

Mrs. Bevan

Pam Ferris

Mrs. Bevan

Angel Matthews

Jessica Hynes

Angel Matthews

Mrs. Sarah Peterson

Joanna Page

Mrs. Sarah Peterson

Gordon Shakespeare

Jason Watkins

Gordon Shakespeare

Mr. Peterson's Dad

Ian McNeice

Mr. Peterson's Dad

Bob

Ben Wilby

Bob

Oli

Brandon McDonald

Oli

Miss Rye

Rosie Cavaliero

Miss Rye

Pixie

Pixie Davies

Pixie

Supply Teacher 1

George Potts

Supply Teacher 1

Reviews

John Chard

It's on safe ground. This manger isn't wobbling. 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

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r96sk

A step down, even if it isn't anything all that bad to be honest. <em>'Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!'</em> is actually, only a tad, more serious than the first film, though it still features all the shenanigans that you'd expect from it. David Tennant is an upgrade on Martin Freeman, as is Joanna Page on Ashley Jensen. Marc Wootton is basically the same, as are Jason Watkins and Pam Ferris. This one doesn't have as much charm as the original, not helped by the majority of it feeling like a copy. Sure, some things are changed but it's practically the same story - except for that fact that there is no actual Nativity play involved, so there's that. I still didn't dislike it though, it serves its purpose I guess.

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