Review: Home Alone (1990)

1990 was a big year for the film industry. It was the year that Julia Roberts beame a pretty woman; the year Kevin Costner danced with wolves; the year Whoopi Goldberg heard a ghost. But more importantly (In terms of cash-flow, that is), it was the year that Macaulay Culkin was first left home alone. Yep, the biggest, most popular, highest grossing film of 1990 was Home Alone, which grossed an amazing $276 million domestically; impressive, even by today's standards. To put this into perspective, if Home Alone had been released in 2009, it still would have made the top 10. After 19 years, that is very impressive indeed. The film currently holds the 45th place on the list of the highest grossing films of all time.

After accidentally being left home alone at Christmas by his parents, eight year old Kevin McCallister has gotten what he wished for: To live alone. However, the novelty of his situation wears off when a pair of burglars plan to ruin Kevin's Christmas. Determined not to let them succeed in their plans, Kevin fights back, with amusing results.

"I made my family disappear."

Kevin is the youngest member of his family, and is one smart kid. Seriously, no flies on him. In fact, to be honest, Kevin actually copes quite well with being left home alone. He doesn't panic or cry about it. He actually revels in his freedom, and manages quite well without parental support. However, it isn't long before he begins to miss his family, and realizes that he doesn't want to be with out them, no matter how much they irritate him.

The thiefs that Kevin battles against in Home Alone are Harry and Marv, aka The Wet Bandits, and they are two of the silliest villains in recent cinematic memory. Silly in the sense that they arn't really all that scary. The height difference between these two is hilarious! They must be at least a foot apart, and it makes the pair all the more comical.

"This is my house. I have to defend it."

Is it me, or does that mac & cheese meal that Kevin that prepares before Harry and Marv arrive look like one of the yummiest things ever? I'd love to dive into the tv and eat it...

The boobie traps that Kevin devises are rather clever; far too clever for Kevin to have actually devised. But I suppose it's all in good fun, and I never tire of seeing Harry and Marv fall for each and every one of them.

The late, great John Hughes wrote the screenplay for Home Alone, and it is probably the most well known of his works outside of The Breakfast Club (1985). Leaving his usually teen-filled comfort zone, Hughes wrote this film specifically for Macaulay Culkin, with whom he worked with the previous year on Uncle Buck (1989), starring John Candy. Incidentially, Candy makes an appearance in Home Alone as Gus, the man at the airport who helps Kevin's mother get home.

Although Home Alone produces a lot of laughs, the film also manages to produce a fair few tears. From me, at least. The end of the picture is so heartwarming that even a stone would feel some emotion, and it doesn't help that the music is so beautifully placed. John Williams' score is incredible. So incredible that I have the soundtrack. I listen to it every Christmas. 

"Keep the change ya filthy animal!"

Every single member of Home Alone's cast is brilliant in their respective roles. Macaulay Culkin steals the show as Kevin. He's possibly the best child star there ever was. Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci is hilarious as Marv and Harry and make a great oncreen team. Another cast stand out is Devin Ratray, who plays Kevin's older brother, Buzz, with devilish delight. Fabulous cast. 

I really love Home Alone, and I have been a massive fan of the film since my first viewing of it back in the mid-90's. Despite my love of the flick, however, I seem to find that the same question re-enters my mind everytime I watch it: Would I like Home Alone as much as I do if I had been an adult the first time that I saw it? The truth? Probably not. But that's beside the point. I was a child the first time I saw it. I have this theory. You see, I don't think it's possible to love the films we see as adults as much as the films we grew up with as kids. There's something about being a child that makes everything somewhat more magical. That's certainly how it seems to work with me, anyway. But, hey, I could be talking nonsense.

Want to see some Christmas fun? Watch Home Alone. 10/10

Trivia: During an early scene in Home Alone, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is seen going through his brother, Buzz's, trunk. In the trunk, he comes across a picture of Buzz's girlfriend, who is rather unfortunate looking. Because he didn't want to be cruel to a girl, Director Christopher Columbus instead decided to dress a boy up and a girl and have him pose for the picture. That was such a nice thing to do!