Nativity 3: Dude, Where's My Donkey?! (2014)

The first Nativity is a reasonable merry film, the sequel Danger in the Manger! was disappointing, I knew that the critics were less than positive about this third instalment, but I was still willing to give it a chance when the festive period came around, directed by Debbie Isitt (Confetti). Basically Mr. Desmond Poppy (Marc Wootton) is excited to tell his pupils at St. Bernadette's Catholic school in Coventry they are going to enter a flash mob competition and win the chance to dance on top of the Empire State Building. But headteacher Mrs. Bevan, also his aunt, has been replaced by new headteacher Mrs. Keen (Celia Imrie), she knows he is not a qualified teacher, and she wants everything in order as she is expecting a visit from an inspector. Starting at the school is new teacher Mr. Jeremy Shepherd (Martin Clunes), who will soon be marrying his fiancée Sophie O'Donnell (Catherine Tate), he is not happy with the idea of Mr. Poppy using Archie the Donkey in their new nativity play. Then things go chaotic when Mr. Shepherd is kicked in the head by the donkey, he loses his memory and all knowledge about Christmas, so Mr. Poppy, Mr. Shepherd's daughter Lauren (Lauren Hobbs) and the other children work together to try to help him remember everything. The children perform their routine in the middle of London, along with many other flash mob groups, including that of old rival Gordon Shakespeare (Jason Watkins), his group win the competition, but Mr. Poppy and Mr. Shepherd manage to swindle their way onto the plane to the Big Apple, posing as the winning school. There Mr. Shepherd is reunited with Sophie, but he cannot show any love he may or may or not have for her, she does not realise it is because he cannot remember her, Mr. Poppy and the children do everything they can to help him prove he is still the man she loves, while also causing chaos in the hotel. The only problem is, the competition judge Bradley Finch (Adam Garcia), an ex-boyfriend of Sophie, is trying to woo her, when he realises Mr. Shepherd has memory loss, he uses this to his advantage. Eventually Mr. Shepherd tells Sophie he has lost his memory, she realises he is telling the truth, but this only increases her doubts in marrying him, which really upsets Lauren. It looks like Sophie has been convinced into marrying Finch, but then Christmas magic occurs, Mr. Shepherd blows some glitter from his hand, and suddenly he remembers being kicked in the head by the donkey, and all his memories return. In the end, Mr. Shepherd manages to stop the wedding of Sophie and Finch, he and she rekindle their love and get married, and Mr. Poppy and the children finally get to perform their dance on top of the Empire State Building, with Archie the Donkey. Also starring Ralf Little as Sophie's Brother, Coronation Street's Susie Blake as Sophie's Mum, Emmerdale's Duncan Preston as Sophie's Dad, Stewart Wright as Uncle Henry (Hotel Manager) and David Hunter as Mr. Parker. Clunes, following in the footsteps of Martin Freeman and David Tennant, is alright being hapless, Wootton has become creepy as opposed to a loveable idiot, at least the children are still cute and talented, it has plenty of song and dance numbers, some good some naff, but it is a predictable and silly story full of dismal jokes, and it is too long and too childish, as a family film it is one to avoid, an awful seasonal comedy. Pretty poor!

After loving the first movie in this series, then enjoying (to a lesser extent) the second movie, I expected this one to be in the same vein. Unfortunately, it is bad. Really bad. Instead of England and school children, we are subjected to Clunes and Tate. In America. Hollywoodised. And not funny enough to carry this movie. Yawn. Mr Poppy tries to pull this movie up, but just doesn't get there with the combination of US and UK humor.This series has so much potential. Bring back the original school, Pam Ferris, and keep it in England with a fun semi-realistic storyline. Hopefully this dud hasn't ruined a future.

Truly one of the worst children's films I have ever seen in a cinema, so badly put together, edited, scripted and acted etc... Just not fun in any form, would have rather watched paint dry...My 8 year old son got so bored he kept wanting to leave the cinema, but I persuaded him to stay a continue to watch for a little longer, but he so wanted to leave, so we left around 10-20 minutes before the end.He gave it 2 stars out of 10 at the most. A complete waste of time and money to go and see. How writers and directors get the money to produce such drivel is beyond me and make people pay to see it. Pity when good children's Christmas TV is produced in the UK from The incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm to Strange Hill High, and Mr Stink.

I went into this with high expectations after seeing the first two, and had no idea who the cast were (I expected the regular cast, David Tennant etc), and was surprised to see Martin Clunes (who plays the perfect dumb guy), and Catherine Tate who is always good in whatever role she decides to play. For a Christmas movie, it's okay. The cinema was jam packed as it was opening weekend. I wasn't disappointed, nor was I pleased. There are some laughs and this is more a 'go and see it with your family' movie. It wasn't as funny as the first two, but I came out with a bright smile on my face.