Review of It's a Wonderful Life (1946) by Edward S — 05 Aug 2012

Anybody who takes the moment to think about the movie would instantly conjure valid reasons to begrudgingly hate it: its shaky message that borders on content with your life and merely trying to rationalize mediocrity; its socialist undertones concerning a goodie-two-shoes archetype defying the money-grubbing, capitalist landlord; its contradicting American imperialist overtones which glorify war and patriotic jingoism; its painfully mushy messages of religion, mostly Christian; etc.

However, those arbitrary, yet very valid, ways of looking at "It's A Wonderful Life" only makes me love the film even more. It's a testament to the power of cinema of being able to tell any tale, this time a life-affirming one, on a universal scale which permeates any boundaries; even if the backdrop is a time-capsule of a nearly laughably idyllic version of a post-war US, its message is applicable to any context. As the viewer, you don't have to necessarily agree with the intrinsic ideals of the film, but a certain suspension of disbelief, required of all films, is warranted to enjoy it.

It's such a simple story utilized to perfection; our protagonist George Bailey, a banker played unbelievably naturally by legend Jimmy Stewart, misplaces a great deal of money which leads to an arrest warrant. Having lived a life of incessant compromises and postponed dreams, his suicide attempt is thwarted by a ecclesiastical plot element. The "message" is finally one of appreciating one's life and importance in a grander scheme.

Dissecting the message down with more esoteric, pedantic means only does disservice to a great film. "It's a Wonderful Life" expertly presents us a simply story with memorable characters, introduces a conflict, paces itself perfectly along the way, and gives us an earnest, if not overly saccharin, resolve. It takes place in a universe comprised of dear values and childhood convictions, and is meant to be a purely emotional treat. Besides, life isn't perfect. Any of the obstacles in the film can be replaced with nonfiction allegories. The film is a sweet, life-affirming fantasy, and it succeeds to the highest degree.