It's A Wonderful Life Plot Hole

[the Vital One]

Clarence Odbody, the guardian angel in the movie, does not show George Bailey his impact on every person he has interreacted with in life. He doesn't even perform a random sampling of his interactions. He cherry picks the good interactions and only shows George the positive impacts he has had.

Does anyone else see the issue here? A quick Internet search did not show this issue addressed anywhere online.

 

[comana]

Isn’t the point to show George a reason to live? Showing negative interactions would only bolster George‘s decision to exit.

 

[the Vital One]

Isn’t the point to show George a reason to live? Showing negative interactions would only bolster George‘s decision to exit.

He was not given a full assessment of his life. Clarence could have completed this assessment after George was off the bridge. Compare this to A Christmas Carol, which gives Scrooge a more complete review. It's a Wonderful Life ended with George having an incomplete picture of his impact on the world and likely a narcissistic outlook going forward.

This problem becomes even more potent if we consider It's a Wonderful Life to be a Christian movie. Judgement will cover our whole lives and not only the positive impacts we have had on others.

 

[comana]

He was not given a full assessment of his life. Clarence could have completed this assessment after George was off the bridge. Compare this to A Christmas Carol, which gives Scrooge a more complete review. It's a Wonderful Life ended with George having an incomplete picture of his impact on the world and likely a narcissistic outlook going forward.

This problem becomes even more potent if we consider It's a Wonderful Life to be a Christian movie. Judgement will cover our whole lives and not only the positive impacts we have had on others.

Well I’m just going to disagree with your interpretation.

 

[RileyG]

Isn’t the point to show George a reason to live? Showing negative interactions would only bolster George‘s decision to exit.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[zippy2006]

Compare this to A Christmas Carol, which gives Scrooge a more complete review.

Compare Scrooge to the suicidal Bailey.