PeacefulDawn’s review published on Letterboxd:
I tried watching this once before, but got fed up by the sappy romance, so I switched off early on. Thankfully, rewatching it in the cinema for its 75th anniversary allowed me to finally appreciate all it does - and yes, I now enjoy the romance. That dance scene at the start is still... not the best... but the way the story develops had me fully gripped. Through a heartfelt, melodramatic exploration of the joys and lows of life, It's A Wonderful Life is a sweetly sincere film that wears its heart on its sleeve.
James Stewart is phenomenal here (though of course, when isn't he?), winning the adoration of the townsfolk for his generosity and integrity, yet succumbing to increasing frustration as his dreams become crushed and his responsibilities squeeze the will for life out of him. It's a long build up, but it leads to him wishing he'd never been born, which results in the sequence that this film is most famous for. His gradual realisation of his importance to so many is brilliantly done, though I can't help but feel this moment is rushed compared to the meticulous unfolding that happened prior. Still, it allows for Stewart to display his very best, and paired with Donna Reed and the rest of the bountiful cast, the beautiful ending makes this a very satisfying experience for Christmas Eve.
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