‘Tis the season to be jolly! And to watch all the feel-good Christmas movies!
But for my niece Chloe, it also means time to hate on that beloved classic, It’s A Wonderful Life, as she is forced to sit through the last of our annual Christmas movie festival. I can never understand why she hates it so much, this inspiring, uplifting, sentimental staple of the holidays. (I don’t even wait for Christmas to watch it!) So I had to ask her.
***
Me: Chloe, how can you hate James Stewart? The lovely and lovable Donna Reed? How, I ask you, how?
Chloe: I hate his character George Bailey because he’s a whiner. It’s boring. So he didn’t travel the world, just get over it! He’s old and it’s annoying. In The Shop Around the Corner he wasn’t like that at all. Just because he didn’t get what he wants, he’ll take his own life? It’s not a good message.
The story is basic, “ooh I have a problem in life and then it got better”, all stories are like that! It’s not the ultimate Christmas movie, for me the ultimate holiday movie is Holiday Inn because it’s happy.
I know of an internet group that agrees George is a whiner. There’s no character development. Only in the end does he see that life is good, it’s like a copout. And that “you want the moon” scene with Mary and the Buffalo gals song? So corny.
Speaking of Mary, in that alternate reality, why does she have to be a librarian just because she’s single? Sadly it’s a testament to the times that if you’re single, you have no other choices in life. And it shows that Potter’s world has no opportunities for women. But just because George is gone, they were so meant to be, that even in an alternate reality she can’t find someone else? She’s beautiful!
Don’t get me wrong, I like corny movies. (Me: Name one! C: Grease 2). I just hate this one.
Me: Geez, tell us what you really think why don’t you.
***
I don’t care, I still love George, and Mary, and Bert, and Ernie (heh). Just because Chloe doesn’t get them doesn’t mean she can skip watching the movie with the family. It’s Christmas and everyone will have fun even if they hate it!
mister beebop 
Chloe seems nice, but I’ve gotta disagree with her. I don’t think Bailey is a “whiner.” That word is overused. He’s like all of us in that he has regrets. That’s not necessarily “whining.” And he’s considering suicide because he (mistakenly) feels he’s lost everything. Again, he’s like many of us who feel at the end of their rope (this movie came not long after the stock market crash and Great Depression). Also, I’m not sure what the “ultimate” Xmas movie is. Is there such a thing? Even “Holiday Inn” has a conflict, with Bing’s struggle for love. Every good story needs a conflict. If you want “all happy” at Xmas, you’ve got a lousy story. As far as the sexism, Chloe herself said it best: the movie is a “testament to the times.” Would we want anything different? Would we prefer “To Kill a Mockingbird” delete its characters’ racism? Also, what’s so negative about being a librarian? I considered this career myself at one time. We need more book readers and librarians to serve them!
I’m not a big Capra fan, but this movie is way better than “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” or “Meet John Doe.” (Now THOSE lay on the cornball.) Tell Chloe, next time you watch this movie, to zoom in on Gloria Grahame as bad girl “Violet Bick.” She’ll feel much better!
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I love your insights 🙂 I agree about George, and I don’t see anything to fault in the character’s journey. We do have very strong opinions about movies in our house, and I think Chloe’s thoughts about the movie are also influenced by being forced to watch it 😀 I’ll make sure to pass on your message about Violet when we watch, which is scheduled for next week!
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Clearly, I’m on “Team Chloe.” https://dubsism.com/2018/11/24/movies-everybody-loves-that-i-hate-episode-1-its-a-wonderful-life/
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That was a great read! And Chloe will be happy to find another ally 🙂
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“Speaking of Mary, in that alternate reality, why does she have to be a librarian just because she’s single?”… The eff is wrong with being a librarian? It’s not any more sinister than being single. In fact, being a single librarian sounds like life goals to me.
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Agree with you there, absolutely nothing wrong with being a librarian! 😀 It’s also a dream job for me.
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