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movie review - Home Alone

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2017.12.12

We watched this with the kids for "movie night". It's about a boy who's accidentally left home alone for Christmas when the family is packing for a trip overseas. The family, as you can probably already tell, range from well-meaning to awful and the while the story as described is implausible we'll just suspend our disbelief and get on with it. Which brings us to the repugnant child himself, who lives a child's world of paranoia (e.g. about the neighbor) and self-pity and self-interest. And then there are the robbers: two burglars have escaped from prison and are casing the family's house as a choice target for theft. To me this always seemed like the weakest part of the story, as a household robbery typically doesn't yield anything like reward you'd want for the risk you're taking on. I suppose this movie panders to suburban white fear.

The kid goes on to fight off the moronic burglars in violent ways. It's not really fun, but the kids found it so bless 'em.

Not recommended.

rand()m quote

Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things.

—George Carlin