Home Alone review

Marv: Kids are scared of the dark. 
Harry: You're afraid of the dark, too, Marv. 

Director: Christopher Columbus
(1990)

Each year around Christmastime, I always try to catch as many films centred on the festive period as possible. And every year, it’s become almost tradition in my household to watch the 1990 family favourite, Home Alone.

This light-hearted film focuses on Kevin (Macaulay Culkin at the peak of his fame), an annoying know it all child who’s family accidently leaves him at home over the holidays as they fly to France on vacation. Mid flight his mother Kate (Catherine O’Hara) realises they've forgotten him and embarks on a quest to get home. Initially Kevin is beguiled by the disappearance of his entire family from the house, naively believing that his wish for them to disappear had come true. Regardless, he is enamoured with this newfound freedom that is so seldom to an 8 year old child with multiple siblings.

This lack of restrictions is an immense weight lifted off Kevin, and considering we’ve all been children once, we can relate to his happiness and relief of nagging parents and peers. The second third of the film does a solid job of emphasising this, and Kevin indulges in the finer aspects of childhood. No bedtimes? Check. Marshmallows and chocolate sauce for a meal? Check. The ability to pick the TV channel that he wants to watch? Check, check, check. All while Kevin wallows in his euphoric paradise, we learn of The Wet Bandits Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern respectively), 2 idiotic thieves who plan to hit Kevin’s Neighbourhood which is empty due to the residents leaving to see their families.

The final third of Home Alone is when events hit their zenith, and we’re given some absurd and often funny scenes. Knowing that the thieves are about to strike, Kevin sets up traps all around his house in anticipation for their arrival. Writer/Director Chris Columbus shows his talent at producing quirky and inventive comedy. From putting nails on the steps in the basement to setting tripwires attached to blowtorches, Columbus’ scenarios are full of ingenuity and generate laughter almost with ease.

Despite being tonally fluffy, Home alone has some issues that simply can’t be ignored. While Columbus’ script does exceedingly well at avoiding the use of contrived plot devices, it occasionally falls into such a frustrating pitfall. When Kevin’s mother calls the Chicago police from France to ask them to send an officer around to check on Kevin, the officer haphazardly knocks on the door, before turning away 5 seconds later and declaring that no one is home. While events such as this cause mild frustration, nothing compares to the annoyance of Culkin's performance.  He’s a bigmouthed precocious brat who spends the 2 thirds of the film whining and screaming when applying aftershave. His character becomes somewhat tolerable by the films conclusion, but still manages to be absolutely infuriating for the bigger part of the film.

Regardless of Culkin’s infuriating performance or some bad writing, Columbus has done a good job of delivering a solid Christmas film that has appeal to the whole family. While it pales in the shadow of something like it’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to choosing the next festive film   

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