It's a Wonderful Life

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⭐ 10.0/10

(Originally written by Tim)

This is a movie Jess' family watches every Christmas Eve, and I hadn't seen it before I spent Christmas with them. I thought it was just a cheesy Christmas classic, that it wouldn't hold up but people still have nostalgia for it. Well, I have seen it more than 5 years in a row now and it is a bonafide classic.

The setup is great. We get to see George Bailey's life through the eyes of an angel, all the good things he does and all the ways life continues to beat him down. We then enter his life on the brink of crises, and watch his story unfold as he gives up on the value of his life. Its hard to remember that people back then could tell interesting stories, at least through film, but this plot hooks me every single time.

There are so many quotable lines that make me laugh every year. The acting is great, even though 40 year olds are playing high school students. The ending makes me tear up consistently, with a relevant message about the value of good deeds and what a meaningful life looks like. Heck, the premise is even modern, with affordable housing and the evil rich playing key roles. Feels ripe for a remake, but I don't think anyone would dare.

Christmas is over, but there is always next year. If you haven't seen it, make it happen.

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