Original Release Date: November 16, 1990
Summary: It is Christmas time and the McCallister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris, France. But the youngest in the family named Kevin got into a scuffle with his older brother Buzz and was sent to his room which is on the third floor of his house. Then, the next morning, while the rest of the family was in a rush to make it to the airport on time, they completely forgot about Kevin who now has the house all to himself. Being home alone was fun for Kevin, having a pizza all to himself, jumping on his parents’ bed, and making a mess. Then, Kevin discovers about two burglars, Harry and Marv, about to rob his house on Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly by wiring his own house with makeshift booby traps to stop the burglars and to bring them to justice.-John Wiggins (IMDB User)
Hello Readers,
Today, I am going to be reviewing ‘Home Alone’ directed by Chris Colombus. With the holidays coming up, I thought I would take a look at a classic Christmas film. Let’s dive into the review for ‘Home Alone’.
This movie is about a family that leaves a kid behind while they go on a trip to Paris for the holidays. John Hughes put a lot of thought into the plot of this film. He wanted audiences to believe that this premise could happen. I think it’s believable enough for a movie. I can appreciate the effort Hughes put into the plot of the film. Another element of the film that I enjoy is the comedy. The comedy in this film is really enjoyable. Most of the standout moments come from the robbery scene, however there were many other comedic moments as well. The plot of the film is pretty nonsensical, but the comedy and the tender moments make up for it.
The filmmaking techniques in this movie are really good for its time. “Home Alone’ was filmed on location in the suburbs of Illinois. They also filmed in a real airport and Trinity Methodist Church in Illinois This is nice because it gives the film an authentic atmosphere. The camerawork in this film is also really good. The stunts in this movie are also impressive. The scene where Kevin rides his sleigh down the stairs is really performed by an adult stunt man. In fact, all of Culkin’s stunts were performed by him. They did a great job of making the stunts feel authentic.
One element about this movie that makes it so enjoyable is the performances of the actors. Macaulay Culkin is amazing as Kevin McCallister in this film. For a child actor at this time, he gave a great performance. He was both funny and genuine. Also, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern were standouts as Harry and Marv. They were very entertaining and the best part of the film for me. All of the other child actors in the film were great too. Overall the acting is great. I don’t think it’s the best acting I’ve seen in a movie, but it’s still genuine and convincing.
This movie is all about the importance of having family and how you should appreciate the ones you love while they are around you. This theme plays out through Kevin’s story, but also “Old Man Marley” as he called in the film. Both of them shun their family and end up alone in the movie. The come to regret this decision, however, and do everything they can to get their families back together. Their scene together in the church is the pivotal moment for both of their characters. It is a great scene that is very heartfelt. The movie makes the attempt to tell us that it is better to spend time with family at Christmas. In that regard, I think John Hughes did a great job.
Overall this film is really enjoyable to watch. It would not be considered a perfect movie by today’s standards, there is still something about it to be appreciated. This movie is one that I find myself watching every year around the holidays. It’s the perfect Christmas movie because it completely embodies the meaning and purpose of the holiday. If you want/need a film to watch around the holidays, I recommend Home Alone.
My Rating: 3.5/5 ★
What is your opinion on Home Alone? Do you re-watch this film every year like I do?
Until next time,
Happy Viewing!
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