The Star offers a contemporary spin on the traditional Nativity story

REVIEW: Gina Rodriguez, Christopher Plummer and Oprah Winfrey lend their voices to The Star, a sweet animated retelling of the Nativity story told from the donkey’s perspective.

IN an attempt to put a fresh, contemporary spin on the Nativity story, The Star

revisits the birth of Jesus from the point of view of the ass.

Could this be the moment animated anthropomorphism finally jumped the shark?

Bo (Steven Yeun) is somewhat steadier than Shrek’s wisecracking Donkey (Eddie

Murphy), while Dave the Dove (Keegan-Michael Key) is the flamboyant sidekick in this

screen relationship.

Bo (voiced by Steven Yeun) and Dave (Keegan-Michael Key) in The Star. Picture: Sony Pictures Animations

But he’s not content with his existence as an ordinary mill donkey, figuring there has

to be more to life than treading endless circles.

The plucky quadruped wants to do something that matters.

With the help of his father (Kris Kristofferson), he literally breaks free of his yoke,

and after injuring his leg in the ensuing chase, winds up in Mary and Joseph’s yard.

Meanwhile, in another part of the country, three camels (Tracy Morgan, Tyler Perry

and Oprah Winfrey) debate the purpose of their current journey as they lump wise

men, gold, frankincense and myrrh across the desert.

Mary (voiced by Gina Rodriguez) with Dave (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bo (Steven Yeun) retell the Nativity story in The Star. Picture: Sony Pictures Animations

Elsewhere in the hills, a lone ewe breaks away from her flock and the shepherds

attending to them to follow the star that has begun to shine brightly in yonder sky.

Ruth the sheep (Aidy Bryant) eventually teams up with Bo and Dave in a race

against time to save Mary and baby Jesus from King Herod’s (Christopher Plummer)

executioner and his two salivating dogs (Ving Rhames and Gabriel Iglesias).

The Star has enough quips, banter and physical comedy to keep very young

audiences amused.

Felix (voiced by Tracy Morgan) and Cyrus (Tyler Perry) play two of the three camels. Picture: Sony Pictures Animations

Their chaperones will be comfortable to the point of complacency with the

storytelling template — while the vocal performances are warm and energetic, the

characters and their relationships are so familiar, you can’t help but feel as though

you have met many of them before.

In this version of events, the “human” characters are the supporting players

Mary (Gina Rodriguez) is a wide-eyed stoic. Joseph (Zachary Levi) is doing his best

to keep up.

The Holy Spirit generates so much lens flare, the G-rated representation of Jesus’s

conception, while mind-boggling, is age appropriate.

Joseph (voiced by Zachary Levi) and Mary (Gina Rodriguez) surrounded by animals in the manger in The Star. Picture: Sony Pictures Animations

Joseph’s reaction to his new wife’s baby bump is similarly restrained.

A sweet, sincere but ultimately frivolous reworking of the Christmas story.

The Star is now showing (opens November 30).

THE STAR (G)

Rating: Two stars (2 out of 5)

Director: Timothy Reckart

Starring: Steven Yeun, Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi

Running time: 86 minutes

Verdict: Christmas knock-off

Originally published as The Star offers a contemporary spin on the traditional Nativity story