I have recently come into a plethora of Christmas movies and I am going to take a look at them all. I have six or seven and I will look at them all between now and December 25th. I started off tonight with Home Alone, a film from John Hughes that was released in 1990 starring Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O'Hara.
As his family is about to leave for Paris for Christmas, Kevin McCallister (Culkin), is feeling the pains of being the smallest child in a huge family. Tempers flare in the hectic household and Kevin yells at his mother (O'Hara), saying he never wanted to see them again. The next morning, his wish comes true; he is mistakenly left behind as the rest of his family leaves for Paris.
Kevin soon takes advantage of the situation, doing what any 8-year-old would do in that situation: "Eating junk and watching rubbish." His neighborhood is being burglarized by two thieves nicknamed the Wet Bandits. On several occasions, they attempt to rob Kevin's house only to be fooled into thinking that there are people home. As they are held at bay, Kevin shoulders some responsibility and even does the laundry and goes grocery shopping.
In Paris, Kevin's mother, Kate, is frantically trying to get back to Chicago to make sure that her son is safe. She trades tickets with a couple and gets back to the United States before eventually ending up in Scranton. She cannot make it any further, but finds a ride with a polka band to Chicago. Meanwhile, the Wet Bandits find out that Kevin is alone and plan to move on the house on Christmas Eve.
Kevin seems at a loss and goes to the local Catholic Church to listen to a Christmas concert. There he speaks with and old man from his neighborhood that he had feared previously. Kevin gives him some advice about reuniting with his son for Christmas and takes fresh heart in this. Kevin returns home to attend to the defense and manages to rout the Wet Bandits and gets them arrested, along with some timely help from the old man.
Kate returns home the next morning and after apologizing, Kevin forgives as the rest of the family arrives in time to celebrate Christmas.
I actually like this movie a lot. It did not necessarily have to be set during Christmas, but this adds an extra dimension to the movie that gives it a lot of heart. I think namely of the scene in the Church with Kevin talking with the old man to the backdrop of 'O Holy Night'. It added much to the conversation, which entailed Kevin convincing the man to reunite with his son for Christmas. It did succeed, but this comes into play later.
I admire Catherine O'Hara in this movie as well. She plays the part of desperate mother perfectly, as her character is clearly desperate to get back to her son and see him safe. She gives $500 and some trinkets to a couple to get back to the United States in the first place and goes through three airports before hitchhiking with a polka band. Her devotion is astounding and it ends well for her; when she had last seen Kevin he has shouted at her and they made up when they were reunited on Christmas Day.
I remember that whole dilemma much more than I remember the fact that the Wet Bandits were involved at all. This movie did the desperate mother routine so well that that alone could have carried this movie. The thieves seemed like a distraction compared to that, as if they were just there to fill time. It did add a fair amount of slapstick to the movie though, which I guessed got it defined as a comedy, but I view it as a drama instead.
Also, I have been to the Catholic Church that was featured in the movie. When I was in Chicago for the National Scholar's Bowl Championship, on that Sunday we went to Mass there. I guess I haven't seen this movie all the way through since then, otherwise I would have recognized it sooner. It was a beautiful Church and that was reflected here as well.
Next up when I have time: Home Alone 2
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