Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!

2012 1h 45m EN

😐

5.5

MID

★5.5TMDB · 111

ComedyFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

David Tennant
Donald / Roderick Peterson
Marc Wootton
Mr. Poppy
Pam Ferris
Mrs. Bevan
Jessica Hynes
Angel Matthews
Joanna Page
Mrs. Sarah Peterson
Jason Watkins
Gordon Shakespeare
Ian McNeice
Mr. Peterson's Dad
Ben Wilby
Bob

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Debbie Isitt
Writers: Debbie Isitt
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $4.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 3.5× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Nativity Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Debbie Isitt, shot by Sean Van Hales. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Nicky Ager. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nicky Ager shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

David Tennant and Marc Wootton and Pam Ferris carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Debbie Isitt directs. Sean Van Hales behind the camera. Nicky Ager scores. Nicky Ager cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $4.1M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Made its money back 3.5× over at the box office.
3Released 14 years ago.
4Part of the "Nativity Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Debbie Isitt, shot by Sean Van Hales. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Nicky Ager. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Nicky Ager shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8David Tennant and Marc Wootton and Pam Ferris carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt2089750 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Sean Van Hales
Original score: Nicky Ager
Editing: Nicky Ager
Production design: Chris Roope
Costume design: Stephanie Collie
Stunt coordinator: Rob Inch
Runtime: 105 min · 1h 45m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $4,095,000
Box office: $14,433,981
Return: 352% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): U
IMDB: Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! (2012)

Part of

Nativity Collection

Martin Freeman is lovelorn teacher Mr Maddens, a former am-dram star whose girlfriend (Ashley Jensen) dumped him over Christmas five years ago and upped sticks, inexplicably, to La-La Land. Yuletide cheer is not his forte, but he's forced to drum some up when Pam Ferris's headmistress earmarks him to direct the Nativity play. The 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.

Also by

Debbie Isitt

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2016-12-31
★ 6/10
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
r96sk2020-12-11
★ 6/10
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.