Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life tells the story of a man's life and all the people he had an impact on. In that sense, this film is a bit like the 1939 film Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Over the course of the film, the protagonist is in charge of a building and loan company and eventually the company loses some money on Christmas Eve. The protagonist decides he is worth more dead than alive and contemplates suicide. Before he can kill himself, a guardian angel shows him how worse the world would be if he were never born.

The films stars are James Stewart and Donna Reed who plays his wife. James Stewart plays his character rather convincingly. Reed is less memorable and has a smaller part, although she is still good. The other characters are far less memorable but are more than adequate.

While this is hardly the greatest movie I have ever seen, it is still quite good. It was not originally intended to be a Christmas movie, but given the fact that the main story takes place on Christmas Eve, it does a pretty good job serving as one. As the holiday season gets going this film is a must-see for anyone that has never seen it.

89/100
B+

UP NEXT: Lawrence of Arabia perhaps.

I watch it at least every other year. It is a classic.

90/100

I need to watch the whole thing.


Glad you finally got to watch it!