Nativity Rocks! is a 2018 British Christmas comedy film and the fourth and final instalment of the Nativity film series by Debbie Isitt. It stars Simon Lipkin, Celia Imrie, Craig Revel Horwood, Helen George, Ruth Jones & Daniel Boys. Like its predecessors, it was distributed by Entertainment One. The only people who reprised their roles in this film were Celia Imrie (who portrayed Mrs Keen, the headteacher of St. Bernadette's who took over from Mrs Bevan after Pam Ferris did not reprise her role in Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?) and Jessica Hynes (who portrayed Angel Matthews in Nativity! 2: Danger in the Manger).
| Nativity! 4: Nativity Rocks! | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Debbie Isitt |
| Written by | Debbie Isitt |
| Produced by | Nick Jones |
| Starring | Simon Lipkin Celia Imrie Craig Revel Horwood Helen George Ruth Jones Daniel Boys |
| Cinematography | Sean Van Hales |
| Music by | Nicky Ager |
Production company | Mirrorball Films |
| Distributed by | Entertainment One |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $4.1 million[1] |
Plot
editFive years after Dude, Where's My Donkey?, Doru, a child refugee from Syria, is separated from his father as he arrives in the United Kingdom having been smuggled in illegally through boat and under fire. He hides in a truck and accidentally arrives in Coventry, he is helped by a supposed lorry driver get to safe place and get help. He is moved to Coventry by social worker Suzie Shelly and joins St Bernadette's Primary School, where he meets new teaching assistant Jerry Poppy, who assists him in his search for his father, amid another Christmas musical production for the school, led by impresario Emmanuel Cavendish.[2] Jerry is immediately suspicious that Cavendish and he have met before, believing that his mother used to clean Cavendish's parents' house before Cavendish framed Jerry for stealing a brooch.
With nowhere to stay, Jerry and Doru end up staying with Barnaby, a lonely boy with rich parents who are often away (this is due to nefarious means by the father). After Jerry helps Barnaby decorate the house, he prompts Barnaby's mother Clara to start making more of an effort to be there for her son emotionally rather than just providing for him financially. Cavendish's auditions for the show initially go well, but when Cavendish starts trying to take all the major parts for himself, he is fired by the schools so they can do it themselves. Doru’s father goes looking for Doru, and hitches a bus to Coventry.
Cast
edit- Simon Lipkin as Jerry Poppy
- Craig Revel Horwood as Emmanuel Cavendish
- Brian Bartle as Doru
- Daniel Boys as Mr. Johnson
- Helen George as Suzie Shelly
- Anna Chancellor as Clara Hargreaves
- Hugh Dennis as Liam Hargreaves
- Ramin Karimloo as Doru's Dad
- Celia Imrie as Mrs. Keen
- Ruth Jones as Farmer Beatie
- Vincent Franklin as Lord Mayor
- Meera Syal as Nina
- Jessica Hynes as Angel Matthews
- Carol Malia as Diane Hargreaves
Reception
editThe film has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 0% based on eight reviews.[3]
When the film was released in the United Kingdom, it opened at #5, behind Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Grinch, Bohemian Rhapsody and Robin Hood.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Nativity Rocks! - International Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2020-04-11. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
- ^ Collin, Robbie (22 November 2018). "Nativity Rocks! review: ear-splitting proof that Mr Poppy and politics don't mix". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
- ^ "Nativity Rocks!". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
External links
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