Home Alone (SE)

After accidentally being left behind from a family trip to France, 8 year-old Kevin McCallister attempts to fend for himself during the Christmas season.

Memory is a tricky thing, especially when it comes to looking back on your childhood. As is particularly notable with HOME ALONE, a movie I haven't seen in a very long time, but one that I also used to watch endlessly as a toddler.

When I think HOME ALONE, I think slapstick. I think wildly crazy antics. I think two burglars getting their asses handed to them by a little boy. But I never realized just how little of that there is. In fact, the attempted burgling doesn't even take place until way past an hour into the film, and then it only lasts about ten minutes. This surprised me, mostly because I couldn't believe (as a child) I was patient enough to wait that long for what was my favorite aspect of the flick. It was also surprising though because, this time around, the burglary was the one thing I thought hindered the film. I know it's not exactly set in reality, but up until that point the filmmakers did do a great job of making the premise very believable... Then the two moron burglars break into the house, and literally fall into every available trap. Let me break down some of them...

• One of the burglars loses his shoes by climbing up a tar covered stairway, then steps on the single laid out nail... falls down, screams, etc. He then decides to break in the house through a window. And he just happens to choose the window that has bits of broken ornament pieces laid on the floor inside. Instead of looking at the ground once he gets in, he simply stomps down with an intense force. Pretty convenient, seeing as how he just lost his shoes.
• One of the burglars accidentally walks through these sticky pieces of saran wrap, and then activates a pulley which launches feathers at him... That's right, feathers. So he looks like a chicken. Hilarious.
• Whilst walking towards the stairs, the burglars apparently forget once again to look at the ground. You know, the ground which has hundreds of race cars covering it.
• And many more...

I know these are stupid things to get worked up over, especially since this is a kid's film. The only reason I'm pointing it out is because, as somebody who's over 10, it's the one thing that kills the previously enjoyable experience. Instead of finishing on a positive note, the film ends on a poor one. Don't get me wrong though, I still think this is a very good film, and I especially love Macaulay Culkin in it (his acting's not always believable, but he's a very entertaining lead). I just don't see myself coming back to this one like I used to, not even for Christmas. Regardless, I have no problem recommending it as a great movie for the whole family to enjoy.

Video: Presented in 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen. The transfer is brand new, and looks great. It's clean, crisp, and shows hardly any signs of age (it is a bit soft, but I think that was intentional). If you're looking for the best quality version of HOME ALONE, then this is the DVD to buy.

Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround and English/French/Spanish 2.0 Surround. The sound is adequate, although your rear speakers won't get much use. The dialogue and score come through nice and clear, and that's what matters.

Don't let the awful "Family Fun Edition" title fool you - this is a worthwhile Special Edition. It may not have 2 discs, but the disc it does have is packed with extras.

Also, for those curious, the previous release contained nothing more than a trailer.

Audio Commentary (with Chris Columbus and Macaulay Culkin): This is an excellent listen, with Columbus going into full-detail concerning the film's production (some of the stories are wonderful), and the now-aged Macaulay adding plenty in terms of humor to the proceedings. If you're a fan, be sure to check out this track.

Blooper Reel (2:04): While not especially long, the featured gags and mess-ups are certainly entertaining. Check it out.

Deleted/Alternate Scenes (16:31): There are 15 scenes, none of which really add anything to the film, but are still worth checking out regardless. Some of them feature a few worthwhile moments.

1990 Press Featurette (3:53): Instead of watching your time, just skip to the making of documentary, as this is pretty much just an old promo piece.

The Making of Home Alone (19:23): A surprisingly entertaining look back on the making of the film, featuring plenty of interviews/comments with cast and crew. The only person who unfortunately doesn't show up is Joe Pesci. Oh well, it's still a great watch.

Mac Cam (4:47): During the filming of the movie, Macaulay Culkin was given a video camera to walk around and shoot with. The lets us see some of that footage. Cute.

How to Burglar Proof Your Home (7:03): This featurette is all about the stunts in the film's finale. It's not all that in-depth, but it's worth a listen to hear how some of the gags were developed and then executed.

Home Alone Around the World (3:52): Technically, this is really just a language featurette. It shows several varying scenes from the film, constantly switching different language dubbings. Sort of fun.

Where's the Buzz Now? (3:03): This featurette starts off with people acting serious (but really joking around) about where they think the actor who played Buzz has ended up. At the end, we find out. Mildly entertaining.

Angels with Filthy Souls (2:06): This lets us view the segment from the black-and-white schlock film in its entirety, and also includes a little intro about the making of it. Nice.

Also included are 3 Trailers and Games (called "Battle Plan", "Trivia Quiz", and "Head Count").

When I see a DVD re-release of a Christmas film during November with the title "Family Fun Edition", the first thing that comes to mind is that it's an obvious marketing ploy to exploit the holiday season. But even if that is the case, this is (surprisingly enough) a worthy upgrade. The DVD is packed with special features, and although the film isn't as great as I remember it being, I'd still recommend it as a solid family film; great for snuggling up to with your family or a loved one during the holidays.