Movie Review # 758: It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Well, everyone, today, we review an older Christmas-themed film that has been said to be a favorite of many people to watch around the holidays, especially Christmas time. Strangely enough, I just saw this film for the very first time as of recently. I’ve heard many good things about it. However, I personally never got around to seeing it until recently. So now, let’s discuss the one, and only Christmas classic, It’s A Wonderful Life.

Plot: Businessman, and banker George Bailey (James Stewart) begins to contemplate suicide after a series of difficult circumstances begin to occur in his business, and his family life. Because of this, other people around him, including his family, begin to pray hard for him. When those prayers reach Heaven, God sends for an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) to head down to Earth to talk George out of such a plan. But before Clarence can do so, God tells Clarence all about George, and his life. Now, will Clarence be able to stop George from taking his own life before it’s too late?

Well, is It’s A Wonderful Life one of those films, Christmas-themed, or not? Well, honestly, it is a really well done film. It also shows a clear example of how people in Hollywood didn’t seem afraid to incorporate things like God, people praying to God, and things like that in mainstream media back then. Also, the fact that this movie started off asa black and white movie before having color added decades later, it also shows that a film can be good whether it has color, is black and white, you name it. What’s even more is that there are valuable lessons to take away from the film. The characters are also really well written, and well-developed. Truthfully, the big standouts as far as characters are Mary, along with George Bailey, and Clarence, especially George, and Clarence. Honestly, the filmmakers did a great job of showing that even Jesus, and the angels have a sense of humor. Why? Well, because the character of Clarence especially helped bring a great sense of humor in terms of how he delivered his lines, and some of the things that he said during some of his interactions with George. George Bailey is also a really great character. He’s one of those characters that you learn to like, yet can feel frustrated with him at points such as when he can act like a character such as Ebenezer Scrooge character at one point in the film. And no, not in the way that you think! More like he can be similar to such a character, but seems to be more complex than that. The score was also really nice. That was done by Dimitri Tiomkin. It’s so nice with the sound of bells, and other instruments over the course of this film, specially when it comes to the more significant scenes in this film. There were also some really fun, and creative scenes in this film, especially around the beginning to middle of this film. And let me tell you, there were some rather hilarious moments. Granted, especially for a Christmas-themed film, it may not reach the heights of films like Home Alone 1, or 2, or likely even a film like A Christmas Story. However, because of how well done this film is, how memorable the characters are, and the valuable that this film tries to teach to the audience, it doesn’t really matter how big, or little, of a comedy this film is. And truly, that is what makes this movie great. Finally, will also say this, though this is technically a Christmas-themed movie, this is probably one of the rare to few times when a movie with that kind of a feel should probably be viewed more often than just at Christmas time. Why? Well, because this film helps teach really good, and valuable lessons, especially learning to love, and value God, and the gift of life that God has given each of us. Seeing as negative things like suicide seem to be more common in this day, and age, it would seem as if more people that may not have given this film a chance yet need to. Yes, it is a movie. Still, for being a movie that centers around a main character that contemplates suicide at one point, starts to wish that he was never born for reasons that I won’t spoil, and things like that, this film could potentially hit home, and teach really great life long lessons to many people.

And that’s my review for It’s A Wonderful Life. There is a lot to recommend for this film. In addition to great lessons to take away from this movie, the storyline is great, the characters are memorable, and people will have fun watching it to one degree, or another. Sure, if people want films with more comedy around the time of the holidays, this may not be people’s first choice in that regard. Still, for other great qualities that this film, be it the morals, the well done characters, and more, people that see this film will come to have an appreciation for it. So if you haven’t seen It’s A Wonderful Life, please, please make it a point to. Not only will you likely have an appreciation for it, but this movie will serve as a reminder of why older films released back around this time, along with others seem to be better than many movies released today in terms of quality, and delivery. So all to say, see it, and see what you think!

Final Rating: 10/10