Official Rating: PG
What would you do if your family forgot to bring you on Christmas vacation, you are eight years old, and you know two robbers are planning to burgle your house? If you are Kevin McCallister, you make the best of it, face your fears, and become an entire home security system. After a family quarrel, in which Kevin declares that he never wants to see any of them again, he gets his wish. Due to a series of mishaps, he is left at home alone while his family goes to France. His mother, of course, panics and immediately sets out to get back to Chicago, where they live. Meanwhile, Kevin is living the high life, doing all the things he's not supposed to do, like jumping on the beds, running and yelling across the house, eating junk, watching rubbish, and rooting through his brother's private stuff. But things soon turn serious. After all, one can't be too crazy with evil furnaces, suspicious-looking neighbors, and burglars about. Eventually, Kevin faces up to all his fears, finding that the furnace is just a furnace and that the neighbor is actually very nice. His handling of the burglars, however, is what has placed Home Alone on the Christmas Special Roll of Honor. Rigging up all sorts of booby traps, from a blowtorch to the head to a nail on the stairs, he valiantly defends his house (and is victorious in the end.) Finally, the family returns just in time for Christmas. It's a beautiful ending to a beautiful movie...
Kids, ask your parents or another trusted adult to tell you the meanings of some things described below!
Good Parts: It's very funny in action and dialogue. Before the climax Kevin engineers many other humorous ways to deflect suspicion off of himself and to flummox the robbers. When alone he takes responsibility for protecting his home, declaring himself to be "the man of the house." Mrs. MacCallister is helped home by a polka band, who embody the helpful spirit of Christmas (even though accepting such an offer today may be highly risky. Don't try this at home.). Home Alone is also very relatable, as anyone with siblings or children can readily recognize. Kevin does, however, eventually realizes how much he loves and needs his family. The style and cinematography is also stellar. John Williams' score, the spot-on casting, and the costume and set design collaborate to make it visually as well as narratively appealing.
Religion: Kevin says a prayer at dinner before the climax.
Violence: Kevin bull-charges Buzz when the latter eats all the cheese pizza just to spite the former. When alone, he watches a gangster movie called Angels With Filthy Souls which includes a machine gun murder. Later he uses the dialogue of same to scare off the pizza delivery boy and the robbers. Kevin also practices his shooting ability with Buzz's BB gun, first on some action figures and then on the burglar Harry—where it hurts, if you know what I mean. The famous traps have proved to be fatal in real life, but here, it’s all just slapstick.
Sexual Content: Kevin’s big brother Buzz has swimsuit posters and, as later noted, a Playboy magazine(none of the content is shown). Kevin is appropriately repulsed, declaring “No clothes on anybody! Sickening!” He (Buzz) also asks a cousin about France's nude beaches.
Language: Kevin sasses his parents, siblings, and other relations. His big brother tells him he wouldn't let him sleep in the same room "If [Kevin] was growing on [his] ass!" Buzz tells Kevin and a cousin a completely untrue and unnerving scary story about an old neighbor, specifically that he killed his whole family and half the neighborhood with a snow shovel and when he salts the sidewalk, the salt becomes bodies.(Tidings of comfort and joy to you, too, Buzz.) The above-mentioned gangster movie has a use of 'hell', threats, and very interesting insults. Kevin tells some white lies about the whereabouts of his relatives to a grocery store cashier "'cause [she's] a stranger." There are lots of insults, including “phlegmwad, “dork”, “idiot”, “jerk”, “moron”, “dummy”, “disease”, “horse’s ass”, and “little creep”. (Kids, do not repeat these. We don’t want to get in trouble with your parents. Parents, we are not to blame for ‘fun new words’ your kids pick up from this. We only list these to warn you what is there.) Also, there are some instances where a bad word may be said, like a "sh-" sound and "son of a [cut off]"
Supernatural: When desperate, Mrs. McCallister tells an airline attendant that even if she has to sell her soul to the devil himself, she will get home to her son. (There is no opportunity for her to follow up on this declaration, and she probably wouldn't anyway.)
Other: Bedwetting is mentioned and barfing occurs. In the plane Uncle Frank, after discovering that the plane's saltshakers are real crystal, tries to steal them by putting them in Aunt Leslie's purse. Additionally in the airport while trying to call home, Mrs. MacCallister swipes a pay phone right out of a lady's hands. The problems described by the police officer (ingesting poisonous substance, being involved in a confrontation with a drunken and/or mentally ill member of his immediate family) may strike panic in watchers as well as Mrs. MacCallister. Back at home, the basement, specifically the furnace, scares the heck out of Kevin (and possibly the audience) by roaring and seeming to talk. Buzz's girlfriend in a photo is referred to as "woof!" ...Let's just say she doesn't photograph well. Kevin climbs a shelf, with predictable results, and eats a lot of junk food at home alone. He is almost run over by robbers Marv and Harry. When he is scared by Old Man Marley, Kevin accidentally(yes, accidentally) steals a toothbrush and is chased by the police. He is not caught, but it is not known if he returned and paid for it or not. A Santa Claus smokes a cigarette. If you have high noise sensitivity, be aware that many loud noises are present. One of the polka guys tells about the time he accidentally left his kid in a funeral parlor, but he was all right. Started speaking again after a week. Hopefully, we haven't scared you out of watching this movie with this list! 😉
Summary: Home Alone is a wonderful Christmas classic that will continue to be enjoyed for years to come. Score 9/10. Merry Christmas!
Comments