Throwback Thursdays - Home Alone

This week's edition of Throwback Thursdays is a classic holiday favourite of mine. It's one of a few Christmas movies I absolutely HAVE to watch every year. It reminds me of my childhood and it's also a John Hughes film. So any way you slice it, it's one of my ultimate faves.

Home Alone
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern
Released: 1990
Box Office: $533,800,000 (Worldwide)
Throwback Release

" When Kevin's Family Left For Vacation, They Forgot One Minor Detail: Kevin. But Don't Worry... He Cooks. He Cleans. He Kicks Some Butt." Man-o-man does that tagline say it all. Classic 90s tagline.

Home Alone stars Macaulay Culkin (in his first starring role) as Kevin McCallister, an eight year old boy who is mistakenly left home alone when his family heads to Paris, France, for Christmas. After getting into the normal hi jinks of a young boy home alone, Kevin finds himself defending his family's home against two inept burglars (Pesci and Stern).

I remember seeing this film as a child, and absolutely loving it. I still do. One of a few "must watch" Christmas films for me. I still laugh at the same jokes and can't help but smile at the end when everything works out. It's a perfect blend of cheesy Christmas movie, feel good family movie and comedy. And it's this perfect blend that has made the movie one of the most well known and successful Christmas films of all time.

The film premise is simple: Kevin McCallister (Culkin) is struggling with being the youngest and therefore in his mind, the ignored son of a large family. The family, along with their cousins and aunt and uncle, are all heading on a holiday trip to Paris and mistakenly leave Kevin home alone. We then watch two sides of the storyline: Kevin having to learn to live on his own and take care of himself while also learning that his house is about to be robbed by two petty criminals, and Kate McCallister (Catherine O'Hara) trying to get back to Kevin and struggling to find a way home.

The genius of this film is the quick wit, holiday cheer and heart. It's not easy to make a decent Christmas film, let alone one that can withstand the years (this film, believe it or not is 22 years old). John Hughes (the mastermind behind films such as Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Vacation (and the entire series including Christmas Vacation), Breakfast Club and Uncle Buck), wrote this film, working his magic in creating this story and wonderful, likable characters. He has a talent for creating comedic story lines that have a lot of heart and he does it again with this film.

Final Verdict: See it. Definitely a Christmas movie but can be watched at any time of the year. It will be sure to put a smile on your face and hopefully, bring back some memories of your childhood Christmases.