The Darker Version of "It's a Wonderful Life"

Rating: 9/10 (29 April 2002)

Warning! Spoilers ahead!
I couldn't help but think of "It's a Wonderful Life" once the movie ended. With the help of a giant talking rabbit, Donnie survives the crash of a mysterious jet engine into his bedroom. The rabbit tells Donnie the world will come to an end in 28 days.
Over the next 28 days, Donnie sees how his surviving the accident directly affect people around him such as his girlfriend, a motivational speaker, a teenager named Frank, and teachers at his school.
Unlike the happy ending of "It's a Wonderful Life, Donnie realizes, as the tragic events unfold, it would have been better had he not survived the accident after all. Using a time travel technique taught by a mysterious local woman, he goes back to the time of the accident and makes sure he doesn't survive.
The film is well-written and cast perfectly. Jake Gyllenhaal's performance of the doomed Donnie was nothing less than brilliant.
Highly recommended!