Christmas Movie #8: Home Alone

You know, secretly, I was just waiting for this one.

It's 'Home Alone'. 

That should be the end of the blog.

I'm not going to explain the plot cos the film's called 'Home Alone' and, to be honest, if you haven't seen it, then you ain't no friend of mine.

Watching it as an adult, I still love it. I still enjoy every entertaining frame. As an adult, I also appreciate how well constructed it is. Within the first ten minutes they establish the plot of how he ends up, you know, Home... on his own, that the film can just be a great ride from then on.

Of course, the reason the film works is Macaulay Culkin. All the praise that has been heaped at his door over the years is entirely justified. He's funny, mischievous, sensitive without being too cutesy. His asides to camera and his occasionally mocking rendering of some of the more on the nose dialogue are what, as a grown up, you really relate too. He was a child, frighteningly ahead of his time. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are also great as the two robbers, suffering a whole manner of indignities without ever giving the sense that these are two character actors who this sort of thing is below. Also credit should go to Catherine O'Hara as Kevin's Mum, who is funny but also the heart of the film and the often overlooked Roberts Blossom. Most people forget about Blossom. He plays Old Man Marley. It's weird cos I've seen the film hundreds of times, but the scene in the church with Kevin, where his often scary face and wild eyes, become a warm smile, suddenly struck me as touching. 

Also John Candy. Nuff said.

I also hadn't noticed that the film, it's own way, is a coming-of-age tale. In the course of the film, Kevin learns to love his family just the way they are, take responsibility and face up to his childish fears. And attack grown men. Maybe he's Tyler Durden?

But no matter how much I try and read into 'Home Alone', I'm just waiting for those paint cans to come out. Oh, the last 20 minutes. Perfect slapstick comedy, that's not been matched since.

If only there were sequels....