Welcome to Second Union’s “Films To Make You Festive”. For the majority of December, Second Union will be talking about our favorite “festive films” in an attempt to get our readers ready for the holiday season. Expect action, adventure and all the nostalgia a Christmas period can possibly produce!
There are films that you watch every year with your family. You bond, you laugh, you cry. Many Christmas films take up space in this category. Sometimes it’s not even about the quality of the movie. Sometimes it’s about the memories created because of the movie. Home Alone is one of those movies.
Home Alone begins one night with the McCallister family preparing for their holiday trip to France the next day. Eight-year-old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) causes a scene at the dinner table and is sent up to the attic to think about his actions. However, in a rush to make it to the airport, the family forgets about him in the morning and leaves him home alone.
Honestly, Macaulay Culkin’s performance in this movie is unforgettable. Even though he’s not even ten years old, he’s very, very smart and uses whatever tools he has at his disposal. He’s also really realistic in terms of how he acts when he finds out his parents aren’t there. Munching on a huge amount of ice cream, watching R-rated films, and sledding down the stairs are only a few of the things a bunch of children his age would do if they were in his situation.
However, this is a Christmas movie, and that means a moral. However, the moral also relates to children too. Many would realize eventually what they are losing without having a family to be with, especially around the holidays. After having a talk with the misunderstood old man next door, Kevin comes to the conclusion that he’d do anything to be with his family, no matter how much he dislikes them at the time.
Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), the two robbers who attempt to break into Kevin’s house, have plenty of chemistry and the writing for them is increasingly great. Harry’s sarcasm mixed with Marv’s stupidity is truly a great combo for the viewer, enabling them to have a joyous time watching the pair struggle and argue over their plights.
John Williams’ score is incredible. I mean, it’s John Williams, so of course, it will be. This one, however, gets better with every listen and the all-too-familiar “Somewhere In My Memory” is a great theme to this iconic holiday flick.
Home Alone is a wonderfully fun Christmas film. It’s one that you can laugh along with your family, point out all the times the robbers would be dead from their injuries, and just overall enjoy. Definitely give this one a watch if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it.
