MovieChat Forums > It's a Wonderful Life (1947) Discussion > Am I the only one who thinks this is lam...

Am I the only one who thinks this is lame and schmaltzy?

posted 4 years ago by Adam60z (3774)
16 replies | jump to latest

I mean, it has its moments, but all-time Christmas classic? Gimme a break! Heaven assigns an angel to save George and get his wings; not much beyond that. Except a bunch of ultra-schmaltzy scenes that are poorly written for a five year old. Rips off elements of Christmas Carol--a superior story. But scene after scene outdoes the previous one in lameness, schmaltz, and unbelievability.
Jimmy Stewart was the only thing that saved this turkey from being melted down for its chemical content. By the way, it was a big flop on initial release. Change my mind!
I consider the original Miracle on 34th St. to be the ultimate Christmas film.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/its-a-wonderful-life-black-and-white-vs-color-versions-230414124.html

[–] Kowalski (76914) 4 years ago

WRONG GENERATION?...I LIKE BUT DONT LOVE THE FLICK...I ATTRIBUTE THIS TO BEING 39 AND GROWING UP WITH NUMEROUS OTHER OPTIONS...I PERSONALLY CONSIDER THE REF TO BE MY PERFECT HOLIDAY MOVIE...THAT OR NL CHRISTMAS VACATION.

[–] Redsfan001 (6180) 4 years ago

The young man from Menace II Society (1993) thought the same.

[–] Adam60z (3774) 4 years ago

I saw that, don't remember that scene. Maybe I picked it up subconsciously!

[–] Redsfan001 (6180) 4 years ago

Strange that after not seeing this movie for over 15 years, that brief scene sticks in my mind and not much else of this movie.

[–] NVF (851) 4 years ago

It got mixed reviews when it opened apparently. And at least one reviewer agreed with your assessment:

Bosley Crowther, writing for The New York Times, complimented some of the actors, including Stewart and Reed, but concluded, "the weakness of this picture, from this reviewer's point of view, is the sentimentality of it—its illusory concept of life. Mr. Capra's nice people are charming, his small town is a quite beguiling place and his pattern for solving problems is most optimistic and facile. But somehow, they all resemble theatrical attitudes, rather than average realities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life#Reception

[–] liscarkat (18977) 4 years ago

You are not the only one. There are many idiots, everywhere.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8803) 4 years ago

I think it's a great film, but hey, I am also a sucker for sentimentality. So when you snidely call it "ultra-schmaltzy," I think to myself, You say that like it's a bad thing!

Ultimately it's a story about recognizing what's really important in life, and also about recognizing that the small kindnesses that we do for others often have long-lasting ramifications that we don't recognize or even know about.

It's interesting that you call Miracle on 34th Street to be "the ultimate Christmas film." As a kid, I loved Miracle but didn't really like It's a Wonderful Life. Now that I am an adult the situation is reversed. Miracle is still a nice and charming movie, but as I approach middle-age I'm much more apt to connect with the more adult themes of IAWL.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 4 years ago

Well said!

[–] jdforyou1983 (1470) 4 years ago

I love it, but to each their own

[–] PaladinNJ (21594) 4 years ago

I think it's a great film but you are entitled to your own opinion.

[–] Roguemail (1615) 4 years ago

The schmaltz only comes in at the last 20 mins, before that there are actually many dark and serious moments in this movie. A lot of people who have never seen it and watch it for the first time are often surprised by that. Even the angel part of the story does not come in until half way through.

So for anyone to describe it as schmaltzy was clearly not paying attention.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yes.