Found myself liking the first 'Nativity' film for what it was, it wasn't exactly great but it achieved the goal at setting out what it wanted to do and not trying to do much than needed. Many are critical of the second film, personally found it watchable if unexceptional. The third film was a mess, so expectations were not high watching 'Nativity Rocks', out of curiosity, and did question its necessity.

'Nativity Rocks' turned to be even worse and even more sorry than the previous film, as far as 2018 films go for me this is easily down there with the worst (excluding the output of SyFy and The Asylum for a moment). Said for that film that the second film was a masterpiece compared to it, regardless of its faults, 'Nativity Rocks' manages the dubious and seemingly impossible distinction of making the third film look good. Mentioned me questioning its necessity before watching, still feel that another film was really not needed and there was a sense that not much effort was made here.

There is only one good thing in 'Nativity Rocks' and that is the cheerful soundtrack. The one thing that has any cheerfulness in sight.

However, the children are nowhere near as natural and tend to mug, Simon Lipkin is annoying and talented actors like Celia Imrie and Anna Chancellor are wasted with far too little to do. 'Strictly Come Dancing's' Craig Revel Horwood is another story, his performance having more ham than a big gammon dinner and making wildly over-acted villains in local pantomimes more subtle in comparison. None of the characters engage, with not much personality for some and others being irritating.

In terms of the story, 'Nativity Rocks' is all over the place, endlessly predictable, ridiculous and contrived with erratic pacing (leaning towards being too padded) in the too infrequent instances of any glimpses of a story being in sight. No personality in the direction and it is surprising that 'Nativity Rocks' was released in cinemas when it has such a straight to video/DVD look.

Biggest problem is the script. There is nothing natural about the improvisatory nature of some of it. The jokes are puerile and juvenile even by younger viewer standards, there is very little to interest adults and some of the schmaltz gets too much. No heart, warmth or charm here, much of it is bland, mean-spirited and childish.

Altogether, very poor film and doesn't rock in any way. 1/10 Bethany Cox

The first film is the only worthwhile entry in this British Christmas franchise, while the sequels Danger in the Manger! and Dude, Where's My Donkey?! were terrible, and, having read the negative reviews, my hopes were very low for the fourth film, directed by Debbie Isitt (Confetti). Basically, Jerry Poppy (Simon Lipkin),the long-lost brother of Desmond Poppy, has come looking for his brother at St. Bernadette's Catholic school in Coventry. But Desmond has already gone, having moved to Australia, so headteacher Mrs. Keen (Celia Imrie) allows Jerry to stay and become the new teaching assistant. Jerry is equally as childish, over-the-top, and enthusiastic about Christmas, music, and spending time with the children as his brother. Meanwhile, arriving in the United Kingdom from Syria is child refugee Doru (Brian Bartle),who has been separated from his father. He is currently being looked after by Nina (Meera Syal),but Jerry is determined to help him find his dad. Jerry meanwhile has nowhere to live, and he is thrown out after it doesn't work out staying with teacher Mr. Johnson (Daniel Boys). So, Jerry stays in the house of pupil Barnaby Hargreaves (Rupert Turnbull),who hides from Barnaby's parents, father Robert (Hugh Dennis) and mother Clara (Anna Chancellor). Jerry is highly excited about the chance to perform a rock opera, which will be overseen by successful theatre musical producer Emmanuel Cavendish (Craig Revel Horwood). In the end, Jerry and the children perform their rock opera version of the Nativity to a crowd on a public stage. In their musical, Miss Shelly (Helen George),Farmer Beatie (Ruth Jones),Angel Matthews (Jessica Hynes) and the Lord Mayor (Vincent Franklin) make appearances. Cavendish does threaten to spoil it, due to being rejected from the show, but he is allowed onstage. In the end, Doru is reunited with his father (Ramin Karimloo),and Jerry and the kids are delighted as the show is applauded by the crowd. Also starring Gabriel Vick as Hugo Alexander, and Trish Adudu as Reporter. Lipkin is perhaps an even more increased version of original star Marc Wooton, much more irritating, childish, and over-the-top, becoming almost creepy, the other well-known cast members are wasted, and the Strictly Come Dancing judge in his film debut is only mildly memorable essentially being himself. Like the three predecessors there are plenty of song and dance numbers, some good some naff, and the children are cute, but the script is terrible, the subplots in between the main plot are pointless and boring, and the jokes are dismal, this is easily the worst of the family film series so far, an awful seasonal comedy. Pretty poor!

After the 3rd film in this series was a lot weaker than what had gone before (despite the ever lovely Marc Wooton as Mr Poppy) I thought that would/should be it for the franchise.

However, here we go again with this 4th film, that thankfully gets things back on track.

It does act as a soft reboot of the series, with Wooton and Jason Watkins character, Gordon Shakespeare being retired in favour of a whole new start.

With a new Mr Poppy (because this is 'Nativity', there needs to be a Mr Poppy) and some other biggish names from UK tv and film this works so much better than number 3, with some nice new songs/messages about the importance of Christmas along the way.

So well done to all involved in this franchise, after a blip you've turned it around and created an above average Christmas film. Please don't do a 5th though.