As it bounces from kooky slapstick to serene reverence, the animated Nativity story “The Star” shows that when it comes to the Bible, it’s usually better for filmmakers to stick to the source material.
When “The Star” stays close to the story of Mary (voiced by Gina Rodriguez) and Joseph (voiced by Zachary Levi) — and how the Holy Spirit announced that she would bear a child, and how God spoke to Joseph to calm his doubts — it’s a graceful, sweet recounting of the birth of Jesus.
But that story isn’t going to pad out a feature-length movie or fill the shelves with licensed plush toys.