Review of Home Alone (1990) by Paul%20 J — 07 Jan 2018

For a Christmas classic, I gotta' say, this is a movie I never really got into. As a kid I found it weird and off-putting, and as an adult I just find it juvenile and not very funny. Look, I respect it for giving a grittier look at childhood and how it's not all sunshine and rainbows and sometimes your family and other kids can just be dicks and adults can be scary.

I appreciate that, I really do, but as a piece of entertainment it just doesn't work for me. I never really laughed while I was watching it, at most I maybe gave a smirk. For the most part I was just annoyed this kid never thought to call the cops.

They make some comment about the phone lines being down, but then at the end when the s*** really hits the fan it shows him calling the cops. I know that's a silly nitpick, but it really bothered me.

The thing is, there is stuff about this movie I actually really liked. The traps are creative, there is a sadistic charm in seeing the criminals get their comeuppance, and there are some scenes that are genuinely charming.

The church scene where Kevin finally realizes the scary neighbor isn't so scary is legitimately great, and there are other moments in the movie that are charming and very Christmasy. As a whole though, I'm sorry, it just doesn't work.

There's enough good stuff in here that come December, I might not mind watching it again, but unless it's showing on TV or I'm babysitting I can't see myself seeking it out.