It's A Wonderful Rant

With the holidays dwindling away with the old year, it is time to speak out about my love for that classic holiday fare, It's A Wonderful Life. Unfortunately, as years go by and I get older and crankier, I am acutely aware that it is not a timeless classic. As much as I love the film (and usually abhor remakes), I cannot help but hope for a remake that will improve upon the original.

My problem with the film is this...

George Bailey wishes he had never been born and Clarence grants this wish; he then shows George how the world would change without his presence. Clarence has no problem telling George that his brother is now dead and all those men on the battleship died as a result. He stands by while George finds out that his uncle is in an insane asylum and that the druggist, Mr. Gower, was sent to prison for killing a child; and assures George that his children no longer exist. All of these things are revealed with little restraint by Clarence, until George asks about Mary. Suddenly, Clarence is reluctant and frightened about imparting the information. What could be so horrible? What fate could be so dire that it would make the angel fearful to reveal it?

Mary never found a man!!

She's an old maid and, to add insult to injury, a... librarian! My god, the humanity!

Yeah, not finding love and companionship is a bitch; but is it really worse than death and insanity?

I really do love this film and consider it one of the best, but it really could stand to be updated and retooled with a less moronic and hysterical revelation regarding Mary's fate.

Okay, rant over. I feel better now.