Primary school teacher Paul Maddens is charged with producing the school's nativity play.

Competing against the posh rival school for the honour of best reviewed show in town, the stakes are raised when Paul boasts that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, a Hollywood Producer, is coming to see his show with a view to turning it into a film.

With assistant Mr Poppy fuelling his lie, Maddens suddenly finds himself a local celebrity and at the centre of parents and over-excited children desperate for fame and fortune.

Maddens' only hope is to get back in touch with Jennifer and lure Hollywood to town....

To be honest, the poster for this movie put me right off. I make a rule of not seeing a film where the star is surrounded by kids looking slightly perplexed, see also Daddy Day Care.

But my daughter dragged me to see the sequel, and that wasn't too bad, so I thought 'why not'.

And to be fair, it's a really fun film, not a Christmas classic by any means, but clever, and funny.

And kudos to the makers, if there is any truth to the fact that the majority of this was improvised.

Freeman is as good as always, if being a little too much like Tim from the office, but he has great chemistry with the children, and they are endearing also.

It's predictable, but who cares, it's a Christmas movie and it does its job of making you feel gooey inside and happy with the world for at least five minutes after the film has finished.

At a small Roman Catholic primary school, production of this year's Nativity play is allocated to a hugely unwilling Mr Maddens. When his idiot classroom assistant Mr Poppy foolishly repeats Maddens' unwise ad hoc comment about Hollywood visiting the Christmas play, the whole town goes mad with excitement.

This slight conceit is driven by the engine that is Mr Poppy and, as Mr Poppy is essentially a big child with no common sense whatsoever, the whole edifice is balanced precariously on an implausibility of monumental proportions.

Yet somehow this doesn't matter. I hesitate to use the word "nice" in view of how anodyne it can be, but there is an overwhelming niceness about this little film. Martin Freeman's customary put-upon everyman persona is absolutely suited to the role of Mr Maddens, and Marc Wootton as Mr Poppy will either irritate the heck out of you, or tickle you: he tickled me. The rest of the cast all offer sterling support and the kids, who could so easily be obnoxious showbiz kids, are actually rather sweet (even the posh kids at the competitive private school).

There is a subplot about lost love which brings other areas of sentiment into focus, and the film ends, of course, with the major production which is the Nativity play in question.

I laughed from time to time but, more importantly, I smiled all the way through - this film left me feeling warm and happy.

Paul (Martin Freeman) was once an aspiring actor, like his friends. One man, Gordon Shakespeare, became a topnotch drama teacher and puts on an annual Nativity Play (very big in Britain) that garners lots of attention. Another friend and love interest, Jennifer, is in Hollywood, now a bigwig producer. But, alas, poor Paul. He is now an upper elementary teacher in a private, Catholic school, where his salary is low and his dreams have been dashed. Enter Mr. Poppy (Marc Wootton)! He is an unconventional teacher's aide that has been deposited on Paul by the well-meaning principal, Mrs. Bevan (Pam Ferris). It seems Poppy is a relative of hers and she's trying to help. Also, Mrs. B announces that Paul will be the director of THEIR school's Nativity Play this time round. Paul is flummoxed and irritated, none of his students seem to be able to sing or act. Neverthess, they adore Mr. Poppy at first sight and, in truth, his odd ways excite them to do better work. One day, most unluckily, Paul runs into the snooty Mr. Shakespeare, who tells of his future, elaborate productions. Loosing control, Paul blurts out that, well, Hollywood in the form of Jennifer is coming to see HIS, Paul's, play. What a fib! Word gets around soon, thanks to Mr. Poppy, who overhears the conversation. Newsfolk descend on Paul's school to find out more. But, how long will it be before the truth comes out? Will it cost Paul is job? This is one funny British Christmas film. Unlike the States, where religious presentations are forbidden under the Bill of Rights, Brits put on pageants each year honoring the true meaning of Xmas, the birth of Christ. (See Love Actually). Only, there is always a fresh take, an added sparkle. Paul's play is no different, sporting new songs and new characters, complete with real barnyard animals. There are FOUR kings in Paul's show, for example, in order to give a shy boy his chance. Mr. Poppy's lyrics and brainstorms also make for a unique re-telling. As such, Freeman and Wootton are perfect foils for each other, the one a straight arrow, the other a different drummer, and both give hilarious performances. All other cast members, including Ms. Ferris, are wonderful, too, as are the darling kids. Then, too, production values, from sets to costumes to script/direction add to the overall merriment here. Therefore, as one might guess, this viewer recommends a showing of Nativity in the near future of most film fans.