Written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, the comedy movie Home Alone (1990) captures our attention today. The story shared is that of an eight-year-old troublemaker who defends his home from a pair of burglars robbing affluent homes in suburban Chicago, Illinois, United States the evening before Christmas as the child’s family left him behind as they travel for pleasure to Paris, France in Europe.
The evening before the eight-year-old would be isolated from his family, Kevin McCallister as portrayed by Macaulay Culkin finds himself getting picked on by his siblings, cousins and even fully grown Uncle Frank McCallister. The words from the likes of Uncle Frank and older brother Buzz, as portrayed by Gerry Bamman and Devin Ratray, respectively, sting Kevin more than the teasing from the others; a dispute over the pizza brought into the house for dinner before the flight that strands Kevin at home alone would lead to a large disagreement between Kevin and his parents.
After being provoked by sibling rivalry and his rude uncle, Kevin has harsh words with his mother, Kate McCallister as portrayed by Catherine O’Hara. Kate banished Kevin for the night to the third story bedroom. Kevin sleeps through the rush of the next morning when the family realizes they overslept and need to rush to the airport to capture a flight to Europe. It is during the haste to depart for the airport that a neighbor kid inserts himself into the party’s headcount. It isn’t until Kevin’s parents Peter and Kate discover, in first class on the airplane, that Kevin would still be in suburban Chicago. John Heard portrayed Peter McCallister.
After waking in the morning to see the family vehicles still at the family home, Kevin realizes he is alone but not that his extended family had traveled to the airport in rented vans. It’s the day before Christmas, by himself for Kevin at this point, with the fear of neighbor “Old Man” Marley planted by Buzz and the extended family the night before. The decorated Christmas tree is left behind for the appearance the family would be home for the holiday. The exploration of his new found freedom offers comedic fodder for the audience at this point, as is the family’s discovery that plans to get back to Kevin are the priority. Roberts Blossom portrayed “Old Man”Marley.
Kevin’s efforts to defend the family house against burglers Harry Lyme and Marv Murchins, portrayed by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, respectively, offers much comedic fodder to the remainder of the movie. The troublemaker kid against the troublemaker adults made for laughs in the live action gags planned to keep the McCallister home safe. The framing of the movie’s outcome to show Kevin’s responses to when and if his family gets back to suburban Chicago to share Christmas day with him offer a payoff the movie needs to answer the drama that began the overarching story.
The comedy delivered with Chris Columbus‘ Home Alone delivers laughs with a touch of heartwarming delivery to tie a bow around the effort of watching. The movie delivers content for adults that works as well as it might for 12-year-olds might find laughs in the antics of after school cartoons for the youths of people of a certain age. I grant Home Alone as directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.
Matt – Saturday, December 23, 2023
Matt Lynn Digital 