It's a Wonderful Life - any good?

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This year I have had (rather strangely as I never buy films) the urge to buy this film on DVD and enjoy Christmas Eve with it and a glass of bubbly and DH!

Is it worth £12 or am I going to be grossed out by Hollywood schmaltz? Will he enjoy it or think it was a big waste of ££?

Not the most important of questions but just a quick opinion survey wanted...

it is one of the most delightful films ever made

reduces DH to tears every time, as well as me

schmaltzy? it is certainly sentimental, but the values in it are true, not superficial.

get a box of tissues in as well.

wonderful.
buy tissues.

it's truly wonderful.
not schmaltzy at all.

its agonising at times! but the joy at the end!!

fantastic film

....watched it today, accompanied by virus-ridden 7 year old twins.

They loved it, even if they did pepper the experience with questions.

('Why don't they just call the police and tell them Mr Potter is a Bad Man??)

...they liked Muppet Christmas Carol better, though!

(in itself a surprisingly good festive watch)

I love this film - I was introduced to it by my Dad who loves it too. Good for everyone I'd say.

I just can't/don't get it even though I'd love to!

OMG, a 7yo has watched it and liked it!

DH & I bought it 2 years ago and have tried 2 years running to "get into it", but it's just that they talk so fast, and it's all so busy, and there's so many characters all wearing the same suits and hats

In a few sentences, can someone explain what the heck is going on so I have something to use as a point of reference?!

I don't understaaaaaand it! (wails)

It is a wonderful film. I have seen quite a few grown men reduced to tears on the first watching. Not smaltzy rather very moral tale reminds us all of the important stuff life is made of. Will also be watching it this christmas

chaufleur do you have children running in and out of the room while you're watching? Maybe you just need some peace to tune into the accents and accustome yourself with the characters. It is outdated but also part of its charm.

it's a story of a man who repetedly has his dreams and aspirations crushed and then he faces a huge perosnal risis. he wishes he were dead and prays for help so an angel comes down from heaven to show him what the world would have been like without him in it. he realises what a huge difference he has made to so many people.

I went to see it at a small cinema one year and the man sitting along from me was crying a fair bit, I love it.

it's my dad's favourite film too. i wonder if it taps into the male psyche in a very particular way?

we started a new tradition this year. Put up the tree, open a bottle of champagne and watch Its a wonderful Life. Perfect film for christmas eve, I love it.

the bishops wife is another big favourite. cary grant as an angel and david niven as the bishop who prays for help. fantastic film

...I'd best point out that my 7 year old urchins were so hot and limp with flu that they would have sat, watched and enjoyed 2 and a bit hours of film about, say, creosote.

So 'It's a Wonderful Life' was a breeze.

...this film doesn't make sense in a few ways. It is quite long, 130ish minutes, and you only see the angel, 'Clarence' for about the last 25 of those. The structure would seem to be all wrong. It ought to break it's own back in the middle and everyone should walk out bored.

In fact, to a degree this is what happened when it came out. It wasn't a big success, and only became one when the US tv networks started playing it to fill gaps in schedules...

...it is one of those films that improves with multiple watching. The wonky structure ceases to matter, and it doesn't matter either that you know what is going to happen...

It shouldn't work, but it does!

(er, like the Muppet Christmas Carol. Michael Caine and a bunch of post modern puppets? Shurely Shome Mishtake...)

great film, on many peoples' greatest film ever list.
Will have you in tears though (unless you are made of stone!)
I love Jimmy Stewart.

Thank you TMMJ, for your succinct synopsis, and also retiredgoth for your "padding out"!

Nancys Garden, no DCs yet but there's one getting ready to make their grand entrance fairly shortly! (and I have the cramp and heartburn to remind me least I forget for a second! )

I am a big fan of B&W films and old films, but for some reason It's a Wonderful Life hasn't gelled so far - it looks great and it sounds great but it is like watching a film in a different language with no subtitles!!

I will give it another go and C-O-N-C-E-N-T-R-A-T-E next time round.

I love Jimmy Steward too...oh yes

Whoops I meant Stewart!

Ooh my fave Christmas film. It is excellent.

I love it

Good?

The BEST

Best film ever made.

You will cry, if you don't, you have a piece of your soul missing.

good synopsis here

Oh it is a bit like Wizard of Oz or Sound Of Music.

Not the best film ever made, but definitely one for Christmas.

You may well have a little cry but you probably won't mind and won't feel manipulated over it.

DP loves this film, in fact thinks it one of the best films ever. I've tried to watch it for the last 3 Christmasses and have never managed to watch the whole film as I just don't "get it". I think something must be wrong with me!