It’s almost Christmas, and now that kids have finished school for the winter term and workers are wrapping up their final days in the office for a much-needed break, most of us will be cuddled up on our sofas, watching feel-good films and television shows. I, for one, always participate in binge-watching festive movies as a tradition, including great classics such as Elf (2003), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) and more. 

However, there is one film that is loved by everyone, which I haven’t seen in a few years. I rewatched it, and it has completely rubbed me the wrong way. I know this may cause an uproar, and yes, you may call me a killjoy, but I vow to never watch Home Alone (1990) again for one major reason. Find out why below.

What is the plot? 

Spoilers ahead for those who may not have seen Home Alone. This movie stars Macaulay Culkin as eight-year-old Kevin McCallister, who is misunderstood and misbehaves.

As the youngest member of his family of seven (including parents Kate and Peter), he often bumps heads with his siblings Buzz, Megan, Linnie, and Jeff. However, Kevin often gets told off the most when these altercations happen.

The story of Home Alone begins with the family packing for Paris as Peter’s brother, Rob, who had recently moved there for a job promotion, invited the whole family to stay with him to spend the holidays together.

As they pack and have dinner the night before their flight, Kevin gets picked on by his siblings but is then blamed for the chaotic dinner that transpires (poor lad just wanted a slice of cheese pizza). After being scolded by his mother and sent to bed, Kevon wishes his whole “family would disappear”.

With a bit of Christmas magic, the power line gets damaged, causing the alarm clocks at the McCallister house to malfunction. The family of 15 (including Kevin’s cousins, aunts, and uncles) wakes up late and, in a rush to get to the airport, leaves a sleeping Kevin at home.

As the family jets off to France, Kevin is left alone to navigate how to fend for himself. The plot thickens as the young child then protects his home with elaborate pranks from a pair of robbers.

Why I will never watch Home Alone again

To begin with (and I know it’s a children’s movie), but how does one get all the way to Paris without noticing their child is missing? When I last watched it, I thought Peter and Kate had 11 children, when in reality, only five are theirs, and the rest are cousins.

There are four adults, yet not one responsible adult, during the entire journey or even at the airport, pauses to ask the most basic question: “Where is Kevin?” You’re telling me, the usually unbearable child is suddenly calm, quiet and agreeable for the whole trip? I think not.

As someone who comes from a family of nine, including six children, we do a headcount every step of the way, but I’m expected to believe they boarded a flight without noticing Kevin missing?

It’s a glaring lapse in logic that undermines the story, leaving the film feeling foolish – or maybe it is my more pressing responsibilities as a guardian that have me more anxious over their actions than finding it funny.

However, my biggest gripe is not the plot hole. Frankly, it’s the parents who are impossible to stomach. How is the mother so astonishingly immature? She treats Kevin as if he were such a nuisance and is just misbehaving for no reason, when it’s her eldest son who is causing more problems.

As a parent, you’d expect more emotional maturity, unbiased actions, and more compassionate behaviour, but she behaves as if she were Kevin’s age.

I understand being frustrated when parenting, but her character is extremely unlikeable. Maybe I could forgive the plot hole if she and her husband were more redeemable characters. Alas, they’re not, and the sequel proves my point even more.

Nonetheless, the film is a fun watch, and it’s always iconic to see how Kevin survives on his own through his many schemes and pranks. However, I think with age and more responsibilities, I can no longer stomach unnecessary, unreasonable and unlikeable characters.

Other critics’ reviews from Rotten Tomatoes 

Bill DuPre from the News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) said: “Home Alone is a lot like most Christmas gifts — nicely packaged and fun to open, but not very useful or tasteful.”

Roger Ebert from the Chicago Sun-Times commented: “If Home Alone had limited itself to the things that might possibly happen to a forgotten eight-year-old, I think I would have liked it more.”

Helen Knode from L.A. Weekly wrote: “Basically, Home Alone isn’t funny because it says Kevin must love his family even though they make his life unlivable.”

However, Home Alone still boasts an impressive 66% on the Tomatometer, with other critics calling it a “cheerful, happy-minded comedy with clever casting”.