Recently, "Home Alone" was added to the Library of Congress's National Film Registry, sort of a hall of fame for American movies or at least an acknowledgement of these movies being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". In the case of "Home Alone", its position as an enduring Christmas classic testifies to its cultural impact but, rewatching the movie for the first time in years, I was pleasantly surprised by its considerable aesthetic qualities.
To start with, "Home Alone" benefits greatly from a script by John Hughes. Although he never received any love from Oscar voters, Hughes had a knack for crafting relatable stories blending comedy & heart that often featured younger performers. He's the writer behind such movies as "The Breakfast Club", "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and another Christmas classic, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". Here, he created a story that somehow seems both nostalgic and timeless, which has no doubt contributed to its continuing popularity. While the high-concept premise of a kid getting left home alone and having to fend off a pair of robbers hopefully isn't a familiar experience for many viewers, the movie's core themes are universal. That being said, not everyone may be a fan of the movie's often slapstick style of comedy but I think that the script is clever enough to appeal to both adults and children.
Of course, writing a story is only half the battle. In order for the movie to actually work it requires the right people in front of (and behind) the camera. Thankfully, the cast is better than you might expect for a movie that's primarily aimed at kids. Macauley Culkin became an overnight sensation for his central performance as Kevin McCallister and he hadn't even reached his 10th birthday when filming wrapped. Considering how his character's first impression is somewhat bratty, another child actor could have easily turned out to be more irritating than endearing. Culkin, however, had a quality about him that seemed like a near-perfect balance between cuteness & mischievousness.
Beyond Culkin's breakout performance, the movie features several memorable turns from seasoned pros. Joe Pesci was an inspired choice for Harry, the more intimidating half of the pair of thieves rounded out by Daniel Stern. Both are fine actors in their own right and they had excellent chemistry together here. Similarly, John Heard & the always dependable Catherine O'Hara are good together as Kevin's parents. I was probably most pleased to see an appearance by the late, great John Candy but I have to admit that Roberts Blossom also made a strong impression as the mysterious 'Old Man' Marley. I should also mention Devin Ratray (Buzz), to single out just one of the other young actors.
Rather than John Hughes handling the directing duties himself, he handed the reins to Chris Columbus, another writer (responsible for both "Gremlins" & "The Goonies") with a couple of directing jobs to his credit, including 1987's spirited "Adventures in Babysitting". I think that Columbus did a nice job here but really the entire production showed plenty of care and attention to detail. The sets really enforce the Christmas feel and so does the memorable score by the legendary John Williams which is supplemented by a handful of well-chosen holiday tunes. The stunt work also deserves mention because there's plenty of it and it's all well executed.
Realistically speaking, I'm sure that at least some of my affinity for this movie comes down purely to nostalgia. I was a kid when "Home Alone" came out and, like most kids, I thought that it was a blast. However, watching it again has shown me that there is indeed some considerable filmmaking craft that went into the movie. I can easily see it enduring as a Christmas classic for years to come.
To start with, "Home Alone" benefits greatly from a script by John Hughes. Although he never received any love from Oscar voters, Hughes had a knack for crafting relatable stories blending comedy & heart that often featured younger performers. He's the writer behind such movies as "The Breakfast Club", "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and another Christmas classic, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". Here, he created a story that somehow seems both nostalgic and timeless, which has no doubt contributed to its continuing popularity. While the high-concept premise of a kid getting left home alone and having to fend off a pair of robbers hopefully isn't a familiar experience for many viewers, the movie's core themes are universal. That being said, not everyone may be a fan of the movie's often slapstick style of comedy but I think that the script is clever enough to appeal to both adults and children.
Of course, writing a story is only half the battle. In order for the movie to actually work it requires the right people in front of (and behind) the camera. Thankfully, the cast is better than you might expect for a movie that's primarily aimed at kids. Macauley Culkin became an overnight sensation for his central performance as Kevin McCallister and he hadn't even reached his 10th birthday when filming wrapped. Considering how his character's first impression is somewhat bratty, another child actor could have easily turned out to be more irritating than endearing. Culkin, however, had a quality about him that seemed like a near-perfect balance between cuteness & mischievousness.
Beyond Culkin's breakout performance, the movie features several memorable turns from seasoned pros. Joe Pesci was an inspired choice for Harry, the more intimidating half of the pair of thieves rounded out by Daniel Stern. Both are fine actors in their own right and they had excellent chemistry together here. Similarly, John Heard & the always dependable Catherine O'Hara are good together as Kevin's parents. I was probably most pleased to see an appearance by the late, great John Candy but I have to admit that Roberts Blossom also made a strong impression as the mysterious 'Old Man' Marley. I should also mention Devin Ratray (Buzz), to single out just one of the other young actors.
Rather than John Hughes handling the directing duties himself, he handed the reins to Chris Columbus, another writer (responsible for both "Gremlins" & "The Goonies") with a couple of directing jobs to his credit, including 1987's spirited "Adventures in Babysitting". I think that Columbus did a nice job here but really the entire production showed plenty of care and attention to detail. The sets really enforce the Christmas feel and so does the memorable score by the legendary John Williams which is supplemented by a handful of well-chosen holiday tunes. The stunt work also deserves mention because there's plenty of it and it's all well executed.
Realistically speaking, I'm sure that at least some of my affinity for this movie comes down purely to nostalgia. I was a kid when "Home Alone" came out and, like most kids, I thought that it was a blast. However, watching it again has shown me that there is indeed some considerable filmmaking craft that went into the movie. I can easily see it enduring as a Christmas classic for years to come.
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