It's a Wonderful Life

Initial reaction: "Life really IS wonderful."
I can't begin to express my happiness in reviewing one of my favorite movies of all time. It's a Wonderful Life spans approximately 30 years in the life of its main character, George Bailey. The film opens in an involving and touching way, carrying the audience through George's hometown of Bedford Falls to overhear numerous prayers being offered up to God on George's behalf. Something has gone terribly wrong in George Bailey's life, and we witness his loved ones, young and old, expressing their concern for him. Who is this man that everyone cares about so much? What's going on?
The prayers in a mumbled chorus travel up to heaven where God and his angels decide an intervention is warranted. This scene is charming. Granted, it consists of pulsating stars and constellations discussing George's problem as though it has just come on the daily news, but it doesn't have to be convincing or cool-looking. That's not the point at all. The point is to show us that the prayers are heard, and help is on the way.
They appoint a second-class angel, Clarence Oddbody, to help George. Most other angels earn their wings by completing missions, but poor Clarence hasn't done this yet, and, as he puts it, "...it's been over 200 years and people are starting to talk." With the promise that if he helps George he will receive his wings, he then gets a view into the life of George Bailey.
George is a wonderful, likeable, all-American guy. As you can imagine, director Frank Capra's choice of James Stewart for this role was probably the best he ever made. He was brought up by kind-hearted, hardworking parents who raised him and his younger brother, Harry, in Bedford Falls. George's father, Peter Bailey, runs the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan which basically allows him to grant loans to the more underprivileged members of the community so they can buy decent homes for their families. A noble pursuit, and he's clearly not in it for the money. George admires his dad, but from the time he's young he itches to get out of the stifling Bedford Falls, see the world, and become a famous architect, designing skyscrapers, air fields, etc. High hopes.
But of course, George is unlucky. George's father dies right before George is supposed to leave for college, and, as a result, his family's beloved business is threatened by the town tycoon, Mr. Potter. George realizes he must give up his dream to save his father's. He ends up living a life of sacrifice. Whether it be family, friends, or just well-meaning citizens down on their luck, George comes through for them. He still has a small, burning flame within him that gives him hope that someday he'll do something really big. But in reality, he ends up just helping people in their average, ordinary lives as he carries on in his own.
Things go fairly well for George. At least, he can't complain too much. He has a beautiful wife, four adorable kids, a decent house, and some high-quality family and friends. But it's hard to get through life without at least one big shocker. George's comes when an $8,000 deposit for the Building and Loan is misplaced en route to the bank. It's the beginning of the worst day of George's life. He faces bankruptcy and prison, and suddenly all of the sacrifices he's made all of his life compile into the realization that he's nothing: he's worth more dead than alive.
Enter Clarence Oddbody, AS2 (Angel Second Class). Clarence intervenes, and when George shares his realization to Clarence in a drunken stupor, Clarence allows George to see what life would be like if he'd never been born.
George stumbles around his hometown, or what he thought was his hometown, and receives shock upon shock of how different things are. I won't give too much away, but his night is filled with eye-opening situations and heartbreaking realizations. He is nearly crazed with confusion and grief, and it's quite a ride for the audience as well.
As affecting as the film is in these respects, it's incredibly heartwarming. Since most of the people in the world that would potentially watch the film are average people, most of us can identify with George's situation. Potential overlooked, opportunities lost. But the joy of it comes with the fact that we all contribute to this world. Each of us has an effect on those around us, some much more than we realize. The final scenes of the movie are some of the happiest I've ever seen. And it's not a superficial kind of happy. It's deeper, the kind that fills your soul and makes living seem that much more worthwhile.
This is a role that James Stewart was born to play. Donna Reed, who plays his wife, Mary, is beautiful, sweet, and sincere. She seems to embody the heart of the film. Also notable are Lionel Barrymore as Mr. Potter, Henry Travers as Clarence, and Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Billy. But to be honest, the entire cast was exceptional. They all contributed fantastically to the plot.

Rating: 18

It's a Wonderful Life is a beautiful movie that warms the heart and guides its audience into a joyful Christmas spirit. It's well-done and meaningful with an excellent cast. For me, it's just not Christmas without hearing the story of George Bailey.