In reality, it's a miserable life

Writing in today's editions of The New York Times, Wendell Jamieson had this take on the movie that always rears its head around this time of year, "It's a Wonderful Life," the 1946 piece of Capracorn starring James Stewart:

"“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people. It is a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher and your oppressively perfect wife. It is also a nightmare account of an endless home renovation."

OK, there's that and the fact that Jamieson thinks Pottersville, the town that would have existed in place of Bedford Falls had Stewart's character never been born, would have been a far more interesting place to live than Bedford Falls. He also believes it would have been economically more viable today than Bedford Falls would have been.