Fri 12 Dec 2006THE DULLEST STORY EVER TOLDREVIEWED - THE NATIVITY STORY:CATHERINE Hardwicke,
director of Thirteen, that searing investigation of teenage
breakdown, has said that she was attracted to this project - which
is exactly what its title implies - by the opportunity to treat the
Virgin Mary as an ordinary youth bearing a far from ordinary
burden. The records suggest that the supposed mother of Christ was no
more than 16 when she made her famous journey, and the director
has, accordingly, cast a child in the role. Keisha Castle-Hughes,
the star of Whale Rider, certainly brings callowness to the role.
But, rather than throwing out angry adolescent sparks, she spends
the film moping about like a spoilt twit grounded for pranging her
parents' car. Wipe that scowl off your face, go outside and kick a
ball about, young lady!