Christmas is a very special time of a year with very special customs based on around very special films. Among Christmas films the most popular is, or at least was until was until few decades ago, It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946 Frank Capra’s black-and-white classic drama which, after initial failure at box office, became a Christmas institution due to medium of television. The same status was reached by Home Alone, 1990 comedy directed by Chris Columbus, which is considered not only as one of the most popular Christmas films, but also among one of the most commercially successful films of all time.
The script was written by John Hughes and, like many of that writer’s work, has plot set in suburban Chicago. The protagonist, played by Macaulay Culkin, is Kevin McAllister, 8-year old boy who lives in large house with his father Peter (played by John Heard), mother Kate (played by Catherine O’Hara), two brothers and two sisters. The house is additionally packed because McAllisters are joined by their cousins before they all are supposed to spend their Christmas holidays in Paris. Young Kevin is picked on by his family and relatives, gets punished for accidentally spilling milk on his Uncle Frank (played by Gerry Baman) and, as a result, wishes that his family would just go away. His wish will be granted when both families during chaotic trip to the airport simply forget him. Kevin is now alone in large house and seems to marvel to opportunity to engage in everything he wanted to do without adult supervision. However, his house also became object of interest of two professional burglars – short-tempered Harry (played by Joe Pesci) and dim-witted Marv (played by Daniel Stern) – who wants to rob it, considering it an easy target because anyone is away because of Christmas. When Kevin becomes aware of their intentions, he decides to defend his home and does so with great ingenuity and skill.
The reviews for Home Alone were initially quite mixed and that can be explained with Hughes’ basic script premise which could, if taken seriously, lead to rather dark film. The film could have shown Kevin’s treatment by his family as an abuse and turn his character into psychopathic monster in making. The plot also features home invasion, one of the most disturbing scenarios in film, which forces audience to imagine being threatened at the place they consider the safest and, which is usually employed in horror film and thrillers. Thankfully for audience, Hughes and Chris Columbus has approached this film as nothing more than feather-light family entertainment, most intended for the younger viewers. Children are likely to easily identify with Kevin and, just like him, initially see his predicament as fulfilment of all their fantasies – an opportunity to play various games, sleep in parents’ beds and eat a lot of sweets. However, since this is family-oriented film, Home Alone goes to the predictable territory of celebration of family values. Kevin actually starts feeling alone and desires his loved ones to come back, even taking a complicated, hard and risky route of confronting potentially dangerous adult criminals in order to protect his home. Spielbergian motive of restoring and maintaining family is underlined not only by use of John Williams’ music score, but also by introduction of Old Man Marley, character of an Kevin’s elderly neighbour (brilliantly played by Robert Blossom) who is subject of all kinds of macabre rumours and is revealed to be just a man who, just like Kevin, yearns for reuniting with his lost family. This subplot adds enough sentimentality for the film to perfectly align with traditional view of Christmas and same can be said for its predictable resolution.
Home Alone, however, also works as quite entertaining comedy. Columbus has relatively low budget for early 1990s standards, but he showed great ingenuity in developing various ingenious effects and using great stunt work. Those efforts pay off very well in the last part of the film when Kevin faces off his opponents in a ways not different from cartoons and proves to be live action version of Road Runner being faced against Will E. Coyote. Film also benefits from very good cast. For Macaulay Culkin this was perfect role and he justifiably earned reputation of best Hollywood child actor since the days of Shirley Temple. Joe Pesci proved great as comical villain, trying to shrug off his reputation of side character in gangster film and same can be said for Daniel Stern. Catherine O’Hara proves effective as Kevin’s mother struck with fear and guilty conscience. Great John Candy in the small role of polka band leader helping her is, on the other hand, somewhat underused in the role that ends up as glorified cameo.
Home Alone is very good film, but not without its flaws. The script is a little bit too Hollywood-like and leaves certain plot holes open. While children would love it, adults, especially those more cynical and jaded, would quickly see through authors’ emotional manipulation and have some problems accepting the plot. For example, Kevin, who is supposed to be intelligent, doesn’t take a simplest and most logical path of dealing with comically and at time unrealistically inept robbers; a lot of his problems could be solved by merely asking adults in the neighbourhood for help. Yet, this manipulation results in effective mix of sentimentality and humour that proved formidable at box office. Home Alone became smash hits in USA and worldwide and for decades stood as one of the most commercially successful films of all times. Like with all films of such stature, it received inevitable sequels which were inevitably inferior to the original. However, most of today’s audience know Home Alone thanks to various television channels all over the world establishing custom of showing it every year during Christmas season. Those who stumble on this while channel surfing during those times probably won’t regret if they give chance to Home Alone.
RATING: 7/10 (++)
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