It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

It really is a wonderful life. I get home from work and i sit down, after watching the end of a Julie Andrews movie (it had Rock Hudson in it too but the title escapes me) i decided to watch this. I sure am glad i did.

The film revolves around George Bailey (the wonderful James Stewart) and his life, which is not fulfilling him at all, he dreams of wild adventures but his responsibilities are always getting in  the way, this strains him considerably until finally, after 'saving' angel Clarence from drowning he wishes he had never been born. Clarence, grants his wish and allows him to see what life would truly have been like.

The movie is a Christmas classic but can be watched at anytime of the year, it just has such a timeless message about family and being a good person. The film boasts impressive acting from Stewart along with Donna Reed as Mary (Georges wife), Lionel Barrymore (as Mr Potter, the man you can't help but hate) and Henry Travers as Clarence (Although sometimes he dipped too much into sentimentality, but that's okay because it is a sentimental film.)

The movie has flaws like any other, sometimes the editing isn't quite up to scratch and the ending of the movie felt rushed (we really only spend about 5 minutes in the world where George isn't born) and then it's the lovely/sweet happy ending, i liked it, but surely Frank Capra (the awesome director of a lot of classics) could have paced it better, or trimmed some of the script. But as it is, i think it works just fine. the scene where George and Mary return from the dance is a pure delight to watch, right up until... wont spoil it. But it's certainly got it's share of great parts.

The thing that will stay with you most after seeing this film is the beautiful character of George, you really love him (well, all the characters are great) but he is the man you see the movie through and he is the one you relate with because he had dreams that he couldn't attain, and everyone has those. He's accessible and no-one but Jimmy Stewart could play him with such authenticity.

So in conclusion, It's a Wonderful Life is a flawed but beautiful classic that demands repeated viewings, in fact i think that everyone should watch it at Christmas because it truly shows the meaning of the holiday: family.

"I wanna live again!" George Bailey (James Stewart), It's A Wonderful Life