CINETV CONTEST: HOME ALONE

When I saw Home Alone for the first time, I did not imagine that I would laugh so hard and still be touched at the courage of a child. It is the story of a little boy Kevin who is left home alone when his extended family travels to spend Christmas elsewhere. Initially, I believed that parents will never forget their own child but the movie made it look plausible due to the chaos and busyness that surrounded the preparation of the trip.

Macaulay Culkin is Kevin and tons the story with his tongue in cheek expressions, his strategy and his courage. At first, he is perceived to be an unruly boy, who consistently quarrels with his siblings and who makes life tough on his mother. However, when he wakes up to a deserted home, he eventually has got the freedom that he had always desired. The manner in which he screams and runs through the house devouring whatever he desires is what every child might imagine happening to him/her.

But this is drastically changed when two burglars, Harry and Marv, attempt to break in on the house. These two characters are criminals but they are made to be funny with regard to the part they play. They believe that it will be an easy task to rob a house where only a child is present but Kevin puts them wrong.

This is the part where the movie comes out in the way of stars The tricks against the burglars prepared by Kevin are so imaginative, and I could not help laughing at how each of the burglars could be tied down one after another. As well as the perils of walking on melted ice, being burned were all exaggerated but also entertaining.

The best part I enjoyed is that Kevin is portrayed as a person that is well matured before his time. Despite the fact that he is afraid, he decides to protect his homestead. He gets inventive, using objects that they find around the house to fight adults. I was also reminded of how even when children are discounted, they can prove stronger and smarter than adults think.

Nevertheless, this is not the only capacity in which this movie is based. It is also lonesome and emotional at times. The feeling of sadness can be felt when Kevin peeps in through the window and sees families together. He regrets that he wanted his family to disappear, but he comes to understand that they are very important. One of the most heart touching parts was when the old man was separated just like Jon in the church with his family. It gives us the idea that without loved ones Christmas is incomplete.

As a Nigeria, there were some parts in this movie I could relate with in my own way. Family is the core value in our culture, and there is rarely a person that would not miss relatives once they are gone. The experience of Kevin reminded me of how there are times that we fail to appreciate what we are surrounded with until we do not have it anymore.

There was good acting in the film. Macaulay Culkin as Kevin was in a performance that was not just innocent but a smart one too. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as burglars were also ideal in their performance as idiot but dangerous characters. The way they expressed themselves when they were caught in the traps of Kevin was simply funny.

The desperate mother, played by Catherine OHara also added emotion, trying to make the desperate attempt of getting back to her son.
The movie is contemporaneous with the Christmas period and the decorations, snow, and music created a warm atmosphere notwithstanding the threat Kevin had.

Another thing that I observed about the movie is the balance of the light moods and lessons. It makes children creative and that when they face fear they should not quit. In the case of adults, this makes them remember how it is essential to be mindful of family and not to take them lightly.

Home Alone is by no means a recent movie, yet, it is fresh. It enables the mixture of humor, actions, and heart to attract both children and adults. Although I understand the role murder played in Kevin, it was not boring and I enjoyed it from the first month to the last reunion with his mother. It is that type of film which can be viewed over and over, particularly at Christmas time.

To conclude, Home Alone is not only a comedy film. It talks about family, bravery and learning the reality that even a child may be able to stand tall when alone. I laughed, I was touched and ended up liking the message it carries. In my case, it is the film that I will advise people to watch as it offers humor and learning lessons in a single event.