Tomas Marinera’s review published on Letterboxd:
A seminal and oddly pertinent effort that is much deeper than it's cheesy reputation. Seriously, if one's view of the film is mainly based on it's happy ending, the rest of the film rarely feels that sentimental. It's a dark and comically tragic tale of a man realizing that the life he wants constantly impedes him. It's a very human lesson about realizing that, despite not getting the lot in life he wanted, he can still find happiness and warmth with the life he managed to make for himself. James Stewart really makes this everyman persona all the more compelling with every scene, giving every outburst & triumph, no matter how small the same amount of authentic human emotion. When he gets angry, one feels the rage coming off him. And it intimidates and scares mainly because one has gotten to know him and all the other residents of Bedford Falls thanks to Frank Capra's elegant and detail world building. Aside from a few elements that seem dated due to modern values (ie "She's just closing up the library"), it's still the same beloved and earned holiday tale of finding acceptance and joy in community.
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