UnquietDreams
Magna Cum Louder
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2023
- Posts
- 27,561
It isn't trying to be anything other than a ridiculous cartoon violence joke, from the title to the end credits. No one would mistake it for a message.Itβs interesting that you like this move and not Itβs a Wonderful Life. This movie is truly soulless. Harbourβs good in it though.
The message of It's a Wonderful Life, on the other hand, permeates the whole film and is disgustingly toxic: you should sublimate all of your own dreams, plans, and desires for the happiness of others, and if you don't love doing that, there is something wrong with you. For example, George wants to be an architect. He wants to create, to build, to push boundaries of what people think in a way that improves lives. He has dreamed this since he was a child, and worked to that goal, to achieve that dream. He takes the right classes, works hard, and gets into college to achieve that. On the eve of going off to follow his bliss, he gives it all up to support the happiness of his brother, who, throwing away years of planning, took another job on a whim. But George doesn't see the worth of his own happiness, only the happiness of others. And this goes on and on and on.
I have had many "people pleasers" in my life and heart. I have watched them follow this same formula, not putting any weight on what they want or need, only sacrificing for others. It is agonizing to see people lose their identity this way. And that is what the film is promoting as "wonderful." It is damaging, it is toxic, and it is a whole lot more "soulless" than a violent parody film of "what if Die Hard had Santa instead?"
Since you asked.