The film begins during the Christmas season. People are happily celebrating in their homes.

However, there is one man who wants to kill himself. His name is George Bailey.

In the heavens, two angels communicate with each other about the planned suicide. A second class angel, Clarence, who has yet to earn his wings, is assigned to help George.

To explain how he ended up this way, the film switches back to the year 1919, when George was 12. He is playing in the snow with his friends. But his younger brother, Harry, almost drowns in the pond under the ice. So, George saves him.

George then goes to his job, even though he’s late. He meets some girls who are interested in him. But his boss, Mr. Gower, makes him focus on his tasks.

At some point, Mr. Gower almost poisons a customer. But George stops him.

Nine years later, George is getting ready to go to college. His brother, Harry, also just graduated from high school. Everyone is celebrating.

George also reunites with a woman named Mary, who had feelings for him since they were kids. The two dance at a party.

Sometime later, though, George and Harry’s father dies from a stroke. George decides to establish Bailey Brothers Building and Loan.

He also spends time with Mary. One night, the two are taking a stroll. But Mary is just in her bathrobe.

Not long after, though, someone approaches. Mary hides in a bush, and her robe comes off. Luckily, it’s somebody picking up George. Mary calms down and puts her bathrobe back on.

There is a board member of the town named Henry Potter. He wants to dissolve his company. But if George takes over, he will let it grow.

George talks to his uncle, Billy, about this. But the conversation doesn’t go very well.

A few years later, Harry has graduated from college. George and Mary also get married.

Mr. Potter offers George a lot of money to work a high-paying job, which includes business trips to New York. But George refuses.

When it’s Christmas Eve, a special welcoming ceremony is held for Harry. He managed to save the military troops from a kamikazi attack.

Meanwhile, George learns that he needs to make $8,000 for the bank quick. Otherwise, he could get arrested.

The stress piles on him so much that he acts all irritable around Mary and his children. He won’t even help them spell certain words they want to write. He also yells at one of kids’ teachers on the phone.

If that’s not bad enough, he wrecks the living room. His family gets very upset.

George then goes to a bridge and almost jumps over it… until a guy falls into the water and fakes drowning. So, George dives in and saves him.

The man turns out to be an angel, who has not earned his wings, named Clarence. He also reveals that he came because he knew that George was trying to kill himself.

George is so unhappy that he wishes that he was never born. Clarence grants him the wish and shows him what life is like without his existence.

A lot of things are worse. For example, Harry drowned in the pond when he was 9, because no one saved him.

Despite what Clarence is showing George, George refuses to acknowledge that he doesn’t exist in this reality. He even stresses out over his car missing.

What will happen next?

I will admit that the premise of the film was kind of misleading. The majority of it focuses on George’s life leading up to meeting Clarence. I thought the two men would meet much earlier.

The story was also confusing at times. Scenes switched quickly, making the plot complex and a bit hard to understand.

However, the POV mainly stayed from George. I’ll also add that I sometimes got impatient with him.

For instance, when Clarence took him to the alternate reality, he kept refusing to acknowledge that he didn’t exist. And Clarence had told him numerous times. That was frustrating.

I also found it immature with how he acted toward his kids before he went to the bridge. I could never imagine my own father behaving that way.

On the bright side, George was good hearted. He particularly had a sweet relationship with Mary.

Another detail I admired was how both the names, “Harry” and “Potter” were used. Plus, Henry does sound similar to Harry. But that’s got to be a coincidence. J.K. Rowling wasn’t even born yet when this film came out.

Anyway, another perk was the ending. I’m not going to say what happens. But I do think you’d enjoy it.

Overall, though, I thought It’s a Wonderful Life was just decent. Despite the strengths, the weaknesses were almost as strong – especially the misleading premise.

I give this film 3.5 out of 5 stars.