Home Alone is a Masterpiece

Thinking about it today as I browse movie websites. I think the movie's a masterpiece. Nostalgia critic just reviewed home alone 3, a movie that's prettymuch in line with any other 3rd movie ever made so I don't hate it that much except for the blatant misuse of the home alone title. They were trying to create some kind of franchise where it can be any kid, not necessarily culkin, but too late bitches, you fucked up by making home alone 2 with the same cast as teh original. So 3 looks like a cheap ass step son to the great big beautiful first and second flicks. If it was called something else like Little Super kid or something, then I'd be all like, well that's ok, not a bad movie because I remember watching it on tv and being so overjoyed that they actually made a 3rd one and then my little kid heart broke as the movie played out and it was just a bunch of horrible remake of the first movie.

Why's the first movie a masterpiece? Masterpieces are like music that you can listen to again and again and not get tired of it. Same with home alone. Stars must have aligned when they made it because despite any minor flaws the movie hits all the right notes, and the inclusion of an old man seeking redemption to parallel kevin's story is genius. The movie's about more than just a wacky kid taking on the big bad world all by himself. It's about making a mistake and trying to fix it any way you can. The parents are flawed. Hell yes the boy in the movie is flawed like every little boy is. And the old man is flawed, but they want to make things right. I love how in the end even after kevin saves the day and everything is all happy and cheerful and la la la christmas time, Buzz sees his room's all fucked up and everything goes back to being its old disfunctional family stuff again. Since that's reality. If home alone 3 did anything wrong it was being too unrealistic with regard to how families really are. Living with anybody for that long you'll go damn crazy, perfectly captured in the movie.

Maybe kevin's a christ figure too. He's held up at the end and about to be crucified by the wet bandits. Then the old man saves him, his own redemption; saving the son he never had, and kevin is free, ressurrected and learns to love his family despite their bullshit personalities. It didn't seem special at the time since I had to go to church every sunday but the inclusion of a church that the wet bandits won't dare go near, is wonderful because it makes the movie more complex than simply being a straight forward super babies movie. The film hints, doesn't bang you over the head with, the possibility that all the events playing out are part of a higher power's plan. Even though kevin's a child, he understands there's always room for some jesus when shit hits the fan. I like that. Masterpiece.