It's a Wonderful Life Review: The Warmest Christmas Classic
9/10 — It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Pros
- James Stewart's superb performance
- Surprisingly dark emotional depth
- A cathartic finale
Cons
- Slow start
- Unashamedly sentimental
James Stewart plays George Bailey, a small-town man who has given up his dreams for his community and, on Christmas Eve, is shown by an angel what the world would be like without him. It flopped on release and became a seasonal institution.
What works
Stewart’s performance is wonderful, running from boyish charm to genuine despair, and the film is willing to sit in George’s anger and disappointment. Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore’s Mr Potter are excellent, and the final scene is one of cinema’s great emotional releases.
Where it falters
The opening is slow, and the sentimentality and simple moral will feel old-fashioned to some viewers.
Verdict
A heartfelt, surprisingly dark classic that earns its tears.
