Review Written by Christian Garcia
On the 11th Day of Christmas, good CG said to me: Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animals!!
Background:
The first two Home Alone films are two of my favorite movies to watch every year on Christmas. The first Home Alone debuted in 1990 and it was a smash hit that launched the career of its star Macaulay Culkin. The first film had a great mix of heartwarming Christmas sentiments combined with hilarious slapstick comedy. Its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was released in 1992 to less positive reviews but it has grown a cult following in recent years.
My Thoughts:
Fun fact about me, I was first exposed to the Home Alone franchise with Home Alone 2. I remember watching it not even around Christmas time but during a Spring Break vacation with my family in Florida. Ironic seeing as the McAllister’s make their way to Florida in the film. I remember enjoying it tremendously and it was a film I kept stumbling upon on cable, again during the non-Christmas time. It wasn’t until years later that I finally sat down and watched the first Home Alone film and while I did enjoy it, I still preferred the sequel, and I won’t lie part of me still does.
However, taking off the nostalgia goggles and putting on my critical cap, I will admit right now that the first Home Alone is the better film and a better Christmas film. But I do believe that Home Alone 2 is the funnier film of the two. The writing and story are much stronger in the first film and the balance of the heart and comedy work much better. While I do find Home Alone 2 the funnier film of the two, I cannot ignore the fact that its story is literally a rehash of the first film just taking place in New York. The sequel is beat-for-beat the same film as the first and that is a very serious flaw when looking at it from a writing standpoint. However, if we are looking at it from a viewing and enjoyment standpoint, I still enjoy the sequel a lot.
Getting that all that across now, I am excited to look back at both films and find what I loved about both!!
Home Alone (1990)
The first Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McAllister, the youngest in his big family who is tired of being ignored by his family. After a rough night, he wishes his family would disappear and he unexpectedly gets his wish when his family accidentally leaves him behind as they take off for a Christmas vacation in Paris. Kevin relishes in his newfound freedom and enjoys his time home alone. However, the fun times don’t last as a pair of burglars known as the Wet Bandits plan to rob every house on the block, including Kevin’s.
What made this film a hit is that every kid could relate to Kevin. When we were kids, we always had that dream of having the entire house to ourselves with no parents telling us what to do or any siblings getting in the way of our fun. This film allowed kids to live that fantasy through Kevin while also reminding us that being all by ourselves, especially as a young child, can be very scary. I remember my first time being home alone and of course I loved the freedom but once the sun went down, I ran as fast as I could to my room and locked the door behind me. Culkin put in a star making performance being a charming but mischievous lead. Kevin was always quick on feet when to hijinks and of course the traps that he sets for the burglars can only come from the mind of a mischievous child.
The Wet Bandits played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are also a great source of comedy. Their banter together brings a lot of laughs with Stern’s Marv being the dim-witted one and Pesci’s Harry being the hot head. Now having Joe Pesci in films like Goodfellas and Casino, it is funny to see how reserved he is and it always makes me laugh thinking how if Scorsese had directed this film, it would not have ended well for Kevin. And of course, there are the traps…
The diabolical and whacky traps that Kevin sets up for the Bandits are where the real comedy lands in this film. Kevin does not make the Bandit’s heist any easier and he puts them through the ringer. Everyone remembers the blow torch on the door, the slippery stairs, broken ornaments, and of course the flying paint cans. These traps are still pretty violent for a kid’s film and most people agree that if this had been real life, these bandits would not have survived.
But what makes this film work so well is the heartwarming lesson and moments. It teaches a great lesson about appreciating your family, especially around the holidays, even when it isn’t easy. At first, Kevin is happy to be rid of his family but as time goes on, he does grow to miss them, even his bully big brother Buzz. Kevin’s at first seem like the worst parents in the world for having left their son all alone. But the mother does redeem herself throughout the film with the lengths that she goes to try and make it home. She encounters a polka band lead a musician named Gus, played by John Candy in one of his final roles, and gets a ride home. When Kevin and his mother are finally reunited, it is at first a tense moment that becomes very heartwarming and gets even better when the rest of the family arrives home just moments later.
The second lesson is about not judging a book by its cover it is taught through Kevin’s neighbor who is first introduced as a scary and intimidating old man. Buzz tells Kevin that the man allegedly killed his whole family, and every time Kevin encounters him, he runs screaming. In a tender moment inside a church, the old man sits next to Kevin and the two have a very nice conversation. The Old Man tells him that the rumors are not true, and he gives Kevin some sage advice. The Old Man even confesses his own struggles to the boy and Kevin even gives him some advice and encouragement. The Old Man returns the favor in the climax where he saves Kevin when he gets cornered by the Bandits. The final scene where we see the Old Man reunite with his family for Christmas is another sweet moment that wraps up the story in a heartwarming way.
The heart and warmth combined with a charming lead and great slapstick comedy are all the ingredients needed to make this film an instant classic. The comedy will give you the laughs you’re looking for while the tender moments give you that warm feeling that one expects from a Christmas movie. The lesson about never taking family for granted is an important one for children to learn and to have it told through a child that they can relate helps get it across even stronger. There is a reason this film is at the top of many people’s favorite Christmas films, mine included, and it holds up as one of the best Christmas films.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
While most agree that the first Home Alone is a classic, there is a lot of divisiveness regarding Home Alone 2. Having seen it before the first Home Alone, I may be a little more biased and suffering from Sequel Syndrome (just made it up now, trademarking it) where you are introduced to a franchise through a sequel and have a hard time going back to the original. But I will again take off my nostalgia goggles and address the problems with this film first before diving into why I love it so much.
The story is very similar to the first film where Kevin McAllister is once again separated from his family on Christmas, only this time instead of being stranded at home alone, he does make it to the airport but gets on the wrong flight and ends up in New York. While enjoying his alone time and exploring New York, he once again encounters the Wet Bandits (now renamed the Sticky Bandits) and must find a way to stop them again. Along the way he encounters a “scary looking” Bird Lady who he later realizes isn’t so scary and even lends him a hand later. Sound familiar???
Watching these films back-to-back, the main issue is very glaring as the stories are beat-for-beat the same. They are too alike the point that many have argued what is the point of a sequel even existing and you can just rewatch the first film.
The biggest aspect of this film that I believe is strongly superior is the comedy. The first film had some funny moments don’t get me wrong, but this film always makes me laugh every time I put it on. The opening school concert where Buzz makes fun of Kevin in front of everyone, and Kevin’s retaliation leads to the whole show being ruined always cracks me up especially when the woman playing the piano gets knocked off the stage. It feels like a scene out of Family Matters, and I love every moment of it.
Another great source of comedy is the inclusion of Tim Curry. Tim Curry is a comedic talent that has blessed us with many memorable moments from his work in film and television and he doesn’t disappoint here. Every moment he is on screen, he is hilarious. When he tries to snoop in on Kevin and is tricked into thinking he has walked in on a man in the shower has me howling. But of course, the funniest scene in the film is when Kevin is being chased by the hotel staff and he tricks them playing audio from an old gangster film on the TV. Now yes, this bit was done in the first film, but I believe they did it much better here. Curry and the staff’s reaction, including one of them even having one of the names mentioned in the film, Rob Schneider’s facial reactions, and of course the closing line of “Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal.” This scene alone makes this film worth checking out.
Like the first film, the climax involves the bandits going through a series of traps that Kevin has set up. But this film decided to take these traps to a whole other level of absurdity. It’s not even that the traps themselves are that funny but I love laughing at how ridiculous and how unrealistic it is for the bandits to have survived any of them. These traps involve getting hit with bricks from at least 30 ft, being launched in the air onto a car, and even getting hit directly in the face with a giant anchor. It is pure insanity and hilarity that seems like something you would see more from a Saw film rather than Home Alone.
While I agree this film is terribly flawed, I do believe that this film has some aspects to it that make me fine with its existence and even some elements that I enjoy more than the first film. It’s one of my favorite films to watch every Christmas with my friends, family, and girlfriend, and it will continue to be a film that I will watch every Christmas.
Conclusion:
The first two Home Alone films hold up as timeless classics that can be watched by anyone. The first film will give you heart and warmth that comes with Christmas while the second will give you plenty of laughs. The second film is a flawed but fun film that is worth watching just for the level of absurdity that it goes to.
The first film has stood the test of time as a timeless classic and one that will live on for generations. The second one while not as a classic or heartwarming as the first is still a good time and worth a viewing.
Also, Merry Christmas Eve to All!! If you are with your family or friends tonight and are looking for something to put on to get you in the Christmas spirit, I highly recommend these films.
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