REVIEW: The Star is a cute little Xmas cartoon taking a front-row seat as Baby Jesus arrives

REVIEW: In the new animated feature The Star, there’s about to be a major Nativity scene in a back alley of downtown Bethlehem, and every talking animal in the Middle East wants in on the act.

The Star is a cute, colourful and corny animated take on the birth of Jesus Christ.

THE STAR (G)

Rating: two and a half stars (2.5 out of 5)

Director: Timothy Reckart (feature debut)

Starring: the voices of Steven Yeun, Keegan-Michael Key, Oprah Winfrey, Gina Rodriguez.

Manger things

There’s about to be a major Nativity scene in a back alley of downtown Bethlehem, and every talking animal in the Middle East wants in on the act.

So begins The Star, a cute, colourful and corny animated take on the birth of Jesus Christ.

It will be best enjoyed by toddlers who have yet to see a Shrek movie, or prise open a Holy Bible.

Felix (voiced by Tracy Morgan) and Cyrus (Tyler Perry) in a scene The Star.

While the pacing is busy and the tone a touch too manic, The Star’s heart is definitely in the right place when it comes to letting little’uns know why there is a Christmas in the first place.

The central critter in proceedings in Bo the donkey (voiced by Steven Yeun), a hardworking farm animal who is destined to bear witness to the most famous birth on mankind’s books.

Joseph and Mary surrounded by animals in the manger.

Bo’s best friend Dave the dove (Keegan Michael-Key) will be there as well, as long as the evil henchdogs dispatched by King Herod to storm the manger do not ruin the big show.

There are some very fruity casting choices nested away in the credits, the second fruitiest of which is Oprah Winfrey as Deborah the sassy camel.

The fruitiest of all? Gina Rodriguez of TV’s Jane the Virgin as the Virgin Mary.

Mary (voiced by Gina Rodriguez) with Dave (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bo (Steven Yeun).