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Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey? Review

Nativity 3

Director: Debbie Isitt.

Starring: Martin Clunes, Marc Wootton, Catherine Tate, Adam Garcia, Celia Imrie.

Running Time: 104 Minutes

Synopsis: The students at St. Berandette’s look forward to taking part in a flash mob competition. But after their new teacher loses his memory just before an Ofsted inspection, the team must band together to get him ready for his wedding.

The third in the epic trilogy…maybe not quite so epic, but the NATIVITY franchise has offered a pair of unscripted Christmas delights with more than enough humour for the whole family. This third instalment once again changes the lead to be tormented by Marc Wootton’s returning Mr. Poppy, and we are given the wonderful talents of Martin Clunes. He might not quite be as popular with the younger crowds as Doctor Who’s David Tenant or Sherlock’s Martin Freeman, but the kids of today have reignited the love of classic comedy Men Behaving Badly…at least that’s what they tell me.

Although I certainly can’t attest to the film’s production process, NATIVITY 3: DUDE, WHERE’S MY DONKEY? seems more scripted than previous outings. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the plot needs a bit more focus this time around as we jump from London to New York and experience a series of choreographed flashmobs and musical numbers, although the songs do sound as though lyrics were made up on the spot. Doesn’t stop them from being annoyingly catchy though. With slapstick humour, irreverent one liners, and fart and poop stuff, there’s a different type of humour for us all, not to mention the bits where you crease up at some (perhaps) unintentional innuendo. After all, “If you believe, then you will receive.”

Clunes is actually downright phenomenal in the film, and perhaps a little too good. He comes across as having genuinely lost his memory, with a brilliant clueless expression and line delivery that suggests he believes he’s in a drama. He convinces on every level, and hits the punchlines well, but there is an honestly traumatising moment when he fails to remember Christmas and starts to lash out. Wootton returns with his OTT Mr. Poppy, and his excitable manchild will definitely appeal to children; I mean, he does say “fart” a few times and that’s hilarious!

Obviously the film is family friendly and filled with Christmas spirit, but on a more serious note it does give us some questionable morals and themes. Without spoiling anything, you could be mistaken for thinking our lead gang of children are actually the villains at one point where they take matters into their own hands, while the idea of marrying for a child’s sake just comes off as rather depressing and archaic. I wasn’t expecting much sense from a from whose title riffs on the underrated comedy classic DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR?, but a lot of the plot doesn’t add up and just raises more questions. Perhaps the improv really did muddy the waters of logic.

Overall, the film is made for kids, kids who will lap up anything Christmas, and despite my years suggesting otherwise, I am one of those kids. NATIVITY 3: DUDE, WHERE’S MY DONKEY? is a strangely delightful Christmas treat for the whole family. At times it balances nonsensical absurdity with genuine sweetness. It may be bonkers, it may be surreal, but it’s Christmas.

[usr=3] NATIVITY 3: DUDE, WHERE’S MY DONKEY? is released on 14th November.

 

Luke likes many things, films and penguins being among them. He's loved films since the age of 9, when STARGATE and BATMAN FOREVER changed the landscape of modern cinema as we know it. His love of film extends to all aspects of his life, with trips abroad being planned around film locations and only buying products featured in Will Smith movies. His favourite films include SEVEN SAMURAI, PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, IN BRUGES, LONE STAR, GODZILLA, and a thousand others.

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