The world was obviously worse off for not having George Bailey around, and though he never pursued his dreams, he did choose to help those around him and by elevating the lot of his fellow man, he made his world a better place. He may not have had the best house or a fancy car, and his kids may not have had the best clothes, but he had a family and friends who loved him. Harry's not kidding when he calls his brother "the richest man in town," because in every way that matters, he is. If that weren't enough, Capra drives the point home with the inscription Clarence left on the inside cover of Tom Sawyer: Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. At the end of the movie, Capra presents the two main themes of the film in crystal clarity and their existence makes It's a Wonderful Life superior to any "feel good" movie made today.

Reviewer Bias: 8

I wrote the same thing here.