BY CHRISTOPHER STAMM
GUEST MOVIE REVIEWER
It’s a Wonderful Life
Rated PG – but it’s suitable for the whole family
In 1946, America was – after having defeated the Axis Powers with its Allied partners, at great cost – at last, at peace.
The American people were in need of a reminder of exactly what the fight was for: friends, family, a sense of unity despite differences, and at its core, a fundamental love of country and community.
It’s a Wonderful Life is Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece of Americana, reminding us even 75 years later of who we are at our core and who we strive as a people to be. It gives us a glimpse of the best of American ideals and of small town life and morality.
We all know the story of George Bailey, a fundamentally decent man at his core. A man of principles and sense of fair play, of loyalty to friend and family, and we all have seen the moment when a good man becomes despairing.
We, the viewer, know about George Bailey and his life, because God and St. Peter decide a man such as he, who has impacted so very many and asked for nothing in return and is unaware of his impact on those around him, deserves to gain that knowledge and, as such, send an angel (second class) to stop a good man from making the worst decision one can make.
It’s a Wonderful Life shows us what we were and what we can be again. We see glimpses of it every year at this time when Christmas brings out the best in many of us. It’s a Wonderful Life shows us how one man, one action, one dance, and one walk home can change the course of a hundred – no, a thousand – lives for the better.
It is a reminder of what we all should strive to be – a good spouse, a loyal friend, a dedicated parent and child, and a loyal citizen.
Five out of five stars.
It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the greatest films ever made, and it is worthy of a yearly viewing at Christmas with your entire family, as a reminder of what we all can and should be.
We should all strive to be George Bailey, and we should all lasso the moon.
Merry Christmas, everyone!