Home Alone - Nostalgia Critic

[@SailorSetsuna7]

Fun fact, this movie being aired on Christmas in Poland became such a tradition that one time in 2010 when the TV announced it wouldn't be aired, the entire country raged so hard that the petition signed by 45k people made the broadcaster bring it back right for December 25th. EDIT: Har har, no, the country is not 45k people total but not everyone knew about a petition yet it was still a loud topic for everyone.

[@Smasho8000]

So it's like with A Christmas Story here in America. Cool.

[@Sailor-Khione]

​@@Smasho8000where I'm from home alone is equally popular

[@andymcfly]

That’s dope

[@stephano1019]

Guess that goes to show how loved a movie can be

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@Smasho8000 no, believe it or not… Christmas Story wasn’t a hit when it came out in 83. It became popular later on

[@weik-2936]

It makes perfect sense that Kevin didn't go to the authorities for help, 1. he saw one of the burglars disguised as a cop, as far as Kevin knows, the police are in on it, 2. Kevin thinks he has committed crimes, he's operating under the assumption that he made his family go away, that combined with the toothbrush theft probably has Kevin thinking that he will get in trouble if he goes to the police, as far as Kevin knows/understands, he's a wanted man on his own, and lastly Kevin's whole arc of the movie is proving that he can take care of himself, that he is not "les incompetents"

[@GlitchyHalo]

same with home alone 2 he didn't go to the cops cuz he was pretty much wanted for credit card fraud

[@ArmiGirl90]

Also, he assumed he magically made his family “disappear”

[@Xarfax321]

Also, phone lines were still down....

[@karrihart1]

And let's face it, most cops wouldn't take an 8-year old saying some bad guys were gonna rob his house seriously.

[@tanandalynch9441]

​@@GlitchyHalo The card actually worked he just pretended his dad was with him so it's not really fraud.

[@kadajsnightqueen]

There’s one little metaphor in the movie that I absolutely love: Marley’s wound. When we first see him shoveling snow and at the store, he has this nasty bloody wound on his hand, and a dirty-looking bandage wrapped around it. But there’s a cleaner bandage on it in the church, and by the time he reunites with his family, the wound and bandage are practically gone. It’s a lovely visual metaphor for his character arc, depicting the hurt of his estrangement from his son and granddaughter, and the healing journey he has towards reconciliation. It’s also something that’s easy to miss in all the action-I didn’t put the pieces together until several Christmases later, when it was pointed out in the DVD extras!

[@endrankluvsda4loko172]

I never noticed that before, but that's freaking awesome. Good eye!

[@Goleon]

More proof of how good of a writer John Hughes was. We really lost a legend.

[@sashaking1115]

Oh my God I never noticed that!!

[@pi_beta7306]

That's awesome!!

[@wingedwolfx8004]

Always loved that metaphor of the movie. Old Wounds can heal.

[@boblangford5514]

I always thought that Marv “recognized one of their voices” and “heard the name ‘Snakes’ before” meant that Marv had seen the movie “Angels with Filthy Souls” before, but couldn’t quite put his finger on where he was recognizing these things.

[@OriginalPiMan]

It's (in-universe) an old movie, so he could even have seen it 10-20 years earlier.

[@PhantoMace2012]

That’s how I have always interpreted it

[@erich7751]

I always took that as they are usually around other criiminals and would know someone like that.

[@RockySamson]

I just thought Marv was a Simpsons fan.

[@danielanderson8322]

@RockySamson Marv and Harry should have had an appearance in the Simpsons with Daniel and Joe reprising their roles

[@jasonbower7763]

I love the little throw away line from Kevin "when i grow up and get married, im living alone" It's such a little kid mindset... he acknowledges that he expects growing up includes getting married... like a societal norm... but he still wants to live alone. Lol It's both cute and eye opening.

[@vesk4000]

Yes, lmao, I just watched the movie again today, and I was like, hmmm... you're gonna get married but live alone 😂

[@oooh19]

@@vesk4000we’ll have a separate apartment from your spouse and child(Ren)

[@monsterhanna6691]

Yeah, that line is great. 😂

[@CountofBeretania]

I love the fact Pesci tries like hell not to F-bomb in a kids film. Just that alone deserved an Oscar. Funny enough: Pesci won the Oscar for “Goodfellas” that same year, so it all worked out.

[@mullaoslo]

I know there has to be takes left out where he let one slip or didn't cover it well enough 😂

[@nine_tails137]

That nutshot scene is friggin hilarious! Cause as a male myself, I feel his pain! Even I would have trouble not swearing my ass off upon feeling that impact!🤣

[@sliat1981]

Presented to him by his home alone 2 co-star Brenda Fricker

[@LegendStormcrow]

He invented a whole Yosemite curse language.

[@m.j.vazquez4720]

14:55 i love how the cashier lady tried way more to see whats going on with the kid by himself than the cops

[@randombro89]

Again, that’s Chicago PD😅

[@KyleRobots]

That tracks. Like the guys at a McDonalds that took care of a customer ODing, helped make sure he was okay, and told him about a rehab place. Retail and Service, we care.

[@ExplorerDS6789]

I'm amazed Doug didn't throw in the Uncle Buck clip there, as this scene was heavily influenced by that exchange between Macaulay and John Candy.

[@carlosfer2201]

cashiers and waiters actually get fired if their customer service isn't good. Cops don't give a damn

[@karrihart1]

@@ExplorerDS6789The scene of Uncle Buck with Macauley Culkin thinking he sees robbers and that door and him grilling Amy Madigan also hugely inspired Home Alone.

[@chayden153]

Catherine O'hara does an absolutely fantastic job as Kevin's mom, also love how she and Macaulay Culkin are still close

[@chasehedges6775]

KEVIN! collapses 😂😂😂😂😂😂. Never gets old

[@chasehedges6775]

It’s good to know she and Culkin are still close

[@chayden153]

@@chasehedges6775 yeah, shes actually suppose to speak at his WOF ceremony on friday

[@melindamercier6811]

Her performances in this movie and Beetle Juice are so goood

[@Logitah]

Her acting wasn't just good, it really came from the heart! ❤

[@DarkLordGanondorf190]

I liked that the Santa guy was obviously off-duty and maybe a little rough around the edges, but he immediately put out his cigarette when Kevin approached. And I liked that Kevin can, again, remain a normal kid when he says "I know you're not him. Just working for him." This movie has also shaped my nostalgic catalogue of Christmas songs.

[@vesk4000]

Yeah and at the end he's like: noone leaves santa without a present; even if it was just a few tic tacs

[@ThenewTchannel]

The casting in this movie is top notch. Critic pretty much said it all with Macaulay Culkin and Catherine O'Hara, but the dialogue and chemistry between Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern is pure comedy gold

[@GlitchyHalo]

and it's funny how thos movie Daniel's character is a complete idiot while the movie Daniel was in right before this, Little Monsters Daniel played a serious and strict dad watching home alone before that I could see a bit of marv in Glen (dad character) esp the closeup when he says "you're dead mister" and half expected him to say "I'm gonna kill that kid" when he stepped on doritos

[@AriochStarr]

Seeing that John Candy scene just makes me miss him even more. He's such a treasure. Rest his soul.

[@Depth217]

In the timeline where he was still with us, they made a legacy sequel of Home Alone where instead of an Endgame Portals scene it’s John Candy’s character returning to save the day.

[@LV426Resident]

RIP He was amazing

[@chasehedges6775]

@@LV426Resident One of the best comedians ever😊

[@DiegoHernandez-xt2su]

RIP John Candy 😞

[@chasehedges6775]

@@DiegoHernandez-xt2su Same

[@hobbitfan8686]

Fun fact: Macaulay Culkin still calls his Home Alone mother, Catherine O’Hara, “Mom”. Even after over 30 years. Very sweet.

[@boredstudent]

I guess Catherine was like a mother to Macaulay in real life.

[@metanightmare4454]

To be fair, it's definitely bittersweet when, considering how his life went for a long while after this movie came out and how things tend to go for child stars in general, would it shock you to learn that she's the closest thing he ever had to a real mom?

[@TheSchaef47]

I wonder if she continued to call Glenn Shadix 'Otho' throughout his life. Like I do.

[@PikaLink91]

I wish families in movies would be portrayed by actual families. I feel so BEtrayed when a not-real-family in a movie pretends to like each other.

[@TheSchaef47]

@@PikaLink91 so people can pretend to be a criminal, or an alien from the planet Xarbon, but they can't pretend to be related?

[@tylertilwick6852]

“You can be a little old for a lot of things. But you’re never too old to be afraid.” That has to be one of my favorite lines in the film.

[@Dreamfox-df6bg]

It's funny no one mentions that Kevin apparently cleaned up the house after the cops took the burglars away except for the one room he forgot. Considering the mess he made and all the traps he set is an amazing feat.

[@AgnessaMo]

It's not even that he forgot to clean it up - considering Kevin broke shelves in that room while reaching for Buzz's money, even if he did clean the mess, Buzz would still see broken shelves and stuff that was on them presumably on the floor. Kevin is a boy of many talents, but a carpenter he's not 🙂

[@Matthew_Baratheon]

I always found it to be the most UNrealistic part. Every time I think about it...I'm just like .."There's no way. It would take me days to get the house cleaned back up after all that"

[@Murph_gaming]

Dude was probably up all night cleaning up.@@Matthew_Baratheon

[@Matthew_Baratheon]

@@Murph_gaming yeah..but he'll even then. It's impressive for child labor

[@charliecomer6001]

I always thought he had help from marley

[@MissFlow]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the wound of Marley, which represents the healed relationship with his son. When Marley comes in the grocery store and places his hand on the counter, his hand is covered with a bloody bandage. When Kevin talks to Marley in the church, there is only a bandaid. And lastly, when Marley waves at Kevin while hugging his grandchild, there is no wound at all. (you can see where it was tho) Sure, wounds physically don't heal this quickly but it's the idea that counts:)

[@retromacman620]

John Candy was so unbelievably talented. He was great at improv, he was consistently funny, he was always likable, and he had a great acting range! He had real chops!

[@nsasupporter7557]

The other movie he did in 1990 was the voice of the bird named Wilbur in the Disney movie Rescuers Down Under

[@TheSchaef47]

​@@nsasupporter7557he had to make sure he was keeping up with other cartoon bird actors like Dom Deloise and Buddy Hackett

[@plawson8577]

@@nsasupporter7557Which ironically lost to Home Alone at the box office.

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@plawson8577 ok, that was a completely pointless and unnecessary comment

[@ExplorerDS6789]

@@nsasupporter7557 Bruce Broughton was originally going to score Home Alone, but he left to score Rescuers Down Under, so we have that movie to thank for John Williams coming on board.

[@brandontherabboat4850]

The Tom & Jerry-esque traps that Kevin set for Harry and Marv obviously had me rolling as a kid, but those moments where he connects with the older folks he found scary at first, like Marley and the pigeon lady from 2, hit so much harder as I grew older.

[@Spiralredd]

It's amazing that they didn't die

[@blueraccoon1088]

My old man and I saw the second one as I got into it

[@truec]

I don't remember Jerry ever shooting Tom in the nuts.

[@DariusJones456]

​@@truecI remember Jerry doing far worse than that to Tom...

[@dennistaylor5065]

The first movie shows horrible yet believably survivable injuries as opposed to the sequel where every single trap is death across the board.

[@scarhead11]

My mom and I especially love the John candy scenes in this movie. “He’s was okay in the end…six, seven weeks started talking again. Kids are resilient like that!”

[@distancebetweenstars8047]

I lost my grandad earlier this year. So that little wave Marley gives as he hugs his granddaughter at the end of the film broke my heart twice

[@starckie]

My favorite scene from this movie is after the bandits are caught. Kevin is putting out cookies for Santa and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas comes on. Through the years we’ll always be together if the fates allow, Kevin is alone. Christmas is the next day. As I get older and Christmases are sadly less crowded, it always brings me to tears.

[@GlitchyHalo]

it was bittersweet too as I think Kevin kinda knows that Santa isn't real even if he says the mall Santas work for the real one he still wanted to do something nice for Christmas if there was a chance his family would return

[@seanmccallum6558]

The best part of the movie is watching Joe Pesci restraining himself from swearing 🤬. It's comedy gold 😂!

[@jaygooese4242]

Funny

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

@@jaygooese4242 "Funny how? Funny like I'm a clown - I amuse you? I'm here to fuching amuse you?! How the fuch am I funny? What's so funny about me?"

[@seanmccallum6558]

@@gluttonousmaximus9048 No,no. I just think you're funny, Pesto.

[@LegitMan335]

Cussing like Muttly from Wacky Races.

[@georgeeastwood6930]

Apparently he kept forgetting it was a family movie (without the family) & Chris Columbus asked him to say “fridge” instead of “f🤬ck”.

[@joelgonzales8342]

This movie is actually part of one of my most memorable Christmas memories. In 1991, I saw it at my aunt's house in California during a giant Christmas party. The house was so packed that we brought in extra pillows and folding chairs into the living room so everybody could have a place to sit. And we watched it on my aunt's "giant" 31 inch tv. I've watched this movie at least once a year since then and I still think of that night when me and all my cousins laughed our asses off.

[@Neck41]

Fun facts: Apparently according to the main script, Catharine O'hara and John Candy had more scenes together but the footage is apparently lost or something. When the truck showed up at the house apparently the two were supposed to have a final scene where she was exiting the back before entering the house. Since most of their dialogue was improvised it's not in the script. Another thing they had planned but didn't film, was that there was supposed to be an end credit scene. It was supposed to show Harry and Marv in jail, in a rec room with others sitting down Watching TV. The movie that was playing was "Angels with Filthy Souls". They would have heard the guy being called Snakes, which causes the two of them to look at one another with surprised expressions, before it ends.

[@plawson8577]

Home Alone wrapped production on February 23,1990. There wasn’t any time to shoot more footage. The script ended with “Just Hung around” and the film was supposed to end right there.

[@angryretailbanker5103]

I remember having the novelized version of this as a kid, which changed things around (Harry hits Marv trying to kill the tarantula rather than vice versa). And one of the scenes in the book not in the movie was that last scene with Catharine O'Hara and John Candy. I don't remember and it wasn't a standout scene, but it at least left the polka guy with a real goodbye scene as she thanks him for getting her home to her son. And then, when she gets in, she starts ringing a bell she has in her pocket to summon Kevin like he's a cat. They really did do things a little different in the book.

[@balrighty3523]

21:40 That’s one thing I appreciate in Home Alone 2. Here, Kevin needs an apology first. In the second, he apologizes first when they meet in front of the Rockefeller tree. It’s not much, but it is clear character growth between the two movies.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

I never noticed that, but for me, Kevin waiting for an apology from his mom before he will smile and embrace her at the end of the original *Home Alone* is the one moment in the film that seems 100% false. After the ordeal he's been through, after the surprise, grief, and guilt of believing he wished his family "into the cornfield," and might never see them again, after giving up any thought of any other Christmas present than just having them back again, after his long, lonely walk past the lighted windows of the homes of other families who were obviously enjoying being together, after his evident self-awareness with Mr. Marley at the church that whatever was lacking in his family's behavior toward him, he had also behaved badly, there's no way any kid who wasn't a budding psychopath wouldn't embrace his mom immediately and unhesitatingly if he ever got to see her again. Kids don't hold grudges for five minutes, and at age 8, a couple days of separation would seem like a lifetime. I have no idea why they put that in. It's unnecessary and inappropriate. And the point is only underlined by the fact that he doesn't demand an apology from anyone else.

[@7Anakin7]

@@oliverbrownlow5615 kids do keep grudges. Kevin waiting for an apology was the correct choice and it lines up with the beginning of the movie. He was still mad at them when he found up his family disappeared. If anything, it's a little unrealistic how in the end the mother stood there and didn't just go for the hug and check for bruises and so forth

[@CineScarborough]

​​@@oliverbrownlow5615 His Mum got on a flight and accidentally left him behind with the rest of her family. It may have been a mistake, but it was still negligent, so of course Kevin would be mad at her. It would feel completely ridiculous if the mother didn't have to apologize after messing up that badly.?

[@bubba200874426]

​@@CineScarborough Kevin never thought anything but his family wished away. Him waiting for an apology seems wrong because there's never a time he doesn't think it's his fault they're gone.

[@CineScarborough]

@@bubba200874426 But that doesn't stop it being his Mum's fault. From an audience perspective, it would feel completely wrong if the mother was portrayed as completely blameless and didn't have to give an apology for her negligence.

[@breathingunderwater]

The scariest part both as a kid and now was Harry's threat and almost follow-through of the finger biting, which I did and still do believe the character would've done after everything Kevin put them through.

[@chapablo]

Joe Pesci actually bit Culkin during rehearsals. Culkin pointed to a small scar he still has to this day from that bite.

[@DanGamingFan2406]

This movie is a freaking masterpiece! I'm surprised it wasn't covered earlier. Kevin and his traps, as well as the Wet Bandits, will forever be icons of the Holiday season. And Macaulay Culkin, forever remembered as one of the best child actors. "Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal."

[@havdroid9769]

Day 59 waiting for the ,,G-force" movie review by the ,,Nostalgia Critic",LET'S GO EVERYBODY!

[@theanimeunderworld8338]

That's why we got Violent Night later for it

[@likecascade7015]

And a happy new year!

[@fromryuk7785]

I posted on his forums a decade ago asking for it only to be told to use the search functions and no he wont do it. Guess now hes finally scrapping the bottom for xmas nostalgia.

[@kdusel1991]

look what ya did ya little jerk!!

[@derpylovecosplay]

The scene in the church with Kevin and Old Man Marley hits home to me. My dad and his father had a falling out a few years ago around Christmas time and my dad hasn’t spoken to his family since. I’ve always loved this movie, but I love it even more ever since I found a personal connection with it.

[@Scarshadow666]

20:03 Knowing that Daniel Stern had to scream silently so as to not scare the tarantula is pretty wholesome imo. ^^

[@BigHailFan]

probably more so it wouldn't bite him in response.

[@saturniidspectre]

Tarantulas are sweet fuzzy creatures :3

[@nine_tails137]

@@BigHailFan I haven't been around tarantulas long enough to know if they're venomous or not? So I can sympathize with Daniel Stern.

[@BigHailFan]

@@nine_tails137 all tarantulas are venomous. and considering their fangs can reach one and a half inches in length? yeah, no. wouldnt want that thing biting me.

[@nine_tails137]

@@BigHailFan Ooooh, that is not good! And a really scary thought! Makes me glad my family doesn't own a pet tarantula. Especially since all the wild spiders I find in my area, are small and harmless.

[@Lalondeist]

I've had a miserable year, like, I want to get stuck with a feeding tube and stowed in a box miserable. I really needed this. Nostalgia Critic, as usual, is an absolute joy around the holidays. Thank you, Doug, truly. Cheers from Northwest Wisconsin!

[@MattSpoon07]

I pray your circumstances change for the better

[@7Anakin7]

Stay strong! Change what you can, withstand what you can't and try to enjoy your hobbies. Happy holidays!

[@sebastianemond5313]

2:22 - 2:54 The innocence of his acting was also perfect camouflage for how *psychotic* he could be, especially in The Good Son.

[@brandonprater4613]

I always enjoyed the juxtaposition of light & dark moments in this movie. It was told mostly through the perspective of a child, who are expected/raised to have a wholesome outlook on life despite living in a less than wholesome world. It's also why I enjoy the scenes of Kevin trying to be more mature & responsible in his attempts to be taken more seriously. It's a classic coming of age story that's surprisingly relatable in so many ways.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

Yep. And unlike a lot of other comedies of this nature, the "serious" moments don't feel forced or heavy-handed.

[@BugsyFoga]

Guess Doug has officially done all the home alone movies.

[@MrJomalley123]

craziest thing is he did them all in reverse

[@nickgiz377]

@@MrJomalley123no he did them in a random order

[@sonicfan3409]

13 years. His journey is complete.

[@someinternetdude8959]

For now…

[@Mrenderboyo]

@@MrJomalley123 actually he did that with the burton/shumacher batman movies

[@Jooo_sh]

I grew up with this movie and now seeing Kevin mcculkin callister as an active presence on KZbin just fills me with Christmas joy.

[@nathancruz9172]

He’s getting a walk of fame this year.

[@jaygooese4242]

Okay that's very emotional 18:01

[@jr2904]

He's getting a Star on the Hollywood walk of fame soon, not that anyone should actually go to Hollywood any more because it's crappy and expensive.

[@nathancruz9172]

@@jr2904 exactly

[@KetwunsGamingPad]

@@jr2904 It's literally a place for ceremonial significance, and yet most film makers are purely sourcing out to cheaper locations, I think secretly a lot of producers admit this being the way forward. Hollywood is becoming a second home for wealthy people involved in film or shows and nothing more. It is not recommended to live in for the average person.

[@TheSchaef47]

5:08 this is why John Hughes is one of my favorite screenwriters from this era. He's very, very good at setup and payoff even as he writes stories that are highly implausible for comedy value. This story almost can't happen in the real world, and would have a Swiss cheese plot in the hands of a lesser writer. How did the entire family oversleep? Wouldn't Kevin be in one of the bedrooms with his brothers and/or cousins? Wouldn't they count heads to make sure they had everyone? Wouldn't they have too many tickets for not enough passengers? Wouldn't Kevin notice the cars were gone from the driveway? Wouldn't he freak out of his family was completely gone? Wouldn't they call to make sure he's all right? Wouldn't they have a cop do a well check on their kid? How are we going to get John Candy into this movie? The film answers *ALL* of those questions.

[@rustyshackelford312]

Little noticed detail the wound on Marley's hand represents his broken family. Bloody and wrapped in the drugstore when Kevin steals the toothbrush, clean and bandaged in the church when he shakes Kevin's hand after talking to him, and healed at the end when he hugs his granddaughter and waves to Kevin.

[@angel_in-black]

My grandpa and I loved watching this movie! He thought it was hysterical and it’s my favorite memory of him watching him laugh at Harry and Marv getting hurt. I don’t have many more memories with him because he died when I was still a kid. I love the story with the old guy too and I’m glad he gets a happy ending. There’s a reason this movie is a classic and always will be!

[@karasmith576]

The ending where Marley is with his family in the snow on Christmas Day. I’m sorry. I get so teary eyed! That moment is Christmas to me. Nobody should be alone on Christmas. Happy to see this man, that has had bad rumors spread about him, finally get his happy ending!

[@Disney65Fan]

Same 😂

[@ep688]

George Costanza?

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

Another Fun Fact: Although John Hughes was fiercely defensive of his screenplay and insisted that everyone deliver his lines as written, he allowed his friend John Candy to improvise. This was actually a trademark of writer and producer Hughes, who also had the five students in The Breakfast Club (1985) improvise when they told one another why they were in detention. In the film, almost all of Candy's dialogue is improvised.

[@JobberJim]

Source?

[@neurohack9038]

“Fun Fact” comments are the worst and most lazy comments you can put on a video. It’s sickening. You need to grow a real personality.

[@UnprofessionalProfessor]

​@@JobberJim"Trust me, bro,"

[@PsychoNerd92]

@@JobberJim It's a KZbin comment, not a thesis paper. No one is going to go searching for a source to back up a casual piece of movie trivia. What exactly are you hoping to gain by calling the validity of their comment into question? Do you do that in person? "Hey, I heard they're making a new Ghostbusters movie." "Oh yeah, show me specifically where you heard that!"

[@plawson8577]

Hughes wrote the script in a weekend alongside “Reach The Rock”. The Script draft was dated September 4,1989.

[@kanekeller3022]

This was the last movie my grandpa saw in theatres before he passed. It was so busy that we could not sit as an entire fanily. I lucked out and got to sit beside him. A fond memory for me.

[@khenali25u8]

John Williams and the choral composition for the Church scene is insanely good. I remember as a kid being awestruck of how beautiful it sounded. This movie really helped define my childhood and i wouldnt have it any other way. I'm so glad it exists

[@takeshikujo2909]

The real shocking thing about the first 2 Home Alone movies is that I am shocked that we never got to see the reactions of the rest of Kevin’s family upon learning that Kevin had to survive against a pair of burglars who in the sequel were ready to shoot him dead in Central Park! Can you imagine the shock, guilt and fear they would have upon learning that a member of their family, a child no less, had to deal with that crap by himself with the idea that their last interaction with him which was not a good one, could have likely been their *last* interaction with them?! I saw missed opportunity and treat that child with upmost respect because we all know Buzz could not do better if he was in the same position!

[@PHSDM104]

Even funnier considering Buzz became a cop.

[@charliecomer6001]

Yeah, I always wondered how Kevin had to explain the gold tooth.

[@suebob16]

I'm thinking the family never knew about the break-in. Kevin seemed to keep himself pretty anonymous with law enforcement during his battle with Harry and Marv. Once they were arrested perhaps Harry and Marv kept their mouths shut about what happened because it would only add to the crimes they would be charged for. Marley would perhaps also stay quiet about the event so as to not create more trouble for Kevin. Notice the parents don't mention anything about burglars in the second film.

[@54raynor]

The real shocking thing: The McCallisters are a wealthy family that live in a Chicago mansion, take extravagant holiday vacations with extended family, has multiple teenagers that have trouble waking up in the morning, and experienced the worst-case scenario from waking up late for a flight. And in the 2nd movie, there is STILL only one alarm clock in the house.

[@PHSDM104]

@@54raynor At least the expenses for the first trip was explained. Rob paid for it all.

[@broadwaybaby561]

My favorite little moment in this movie is in the church, when Marley is approaching Kevin, who has an expression of frightened awe. Marley says "Merry Christmas", which causes Kevin's brow to drop, turning into a look of pure confusion. The best thing about it is that his mouth doesn't change, just his eyes. 😂

[@deuceydee3506]

The way his expression changes is so adorably hilarious. I also like the exchange later in the conversation they have, when Kevin asks him why he can't see his granddaughter, and he says "I'm not welcome," to which Kevin incredulously blurts out, "At church???" I imagine just a little bit of the fear he had of this man came back, like he's wondering for a second if he should really be talking to him. XD

[@Totallysaneperson1]

Its nice seeing Doug review the first home alone. It was one of my favorite movies to watch and seeing him review it makes me feel happy

[@nsasupporter7557]

I know that 2 was far fetched because the traps in that one would actually kill people, but it’s just as much of a classic as the first movie

[@nahor88]

@@nsasupporter7557 I prefer the 2nd one simply cuz it's more "fun" than the first. What kid his age wouldn't dream of having their own room in a 5 star hotel, and their own cheese pizza in a limousine on their way to a huge toy store? The lady in the 2nd movie was also more believable as a societal outcast. People actually do treat the homeless that way.

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@nahor88 oh I know right 🙂 But unfortunately, it all went to crap for him. When he was accused of stealing the credit card his whole demeanor changed and wanted to go home lol

[@WWJD85]

The Home Alone 2 Novel explains sorta how Kevin cleaned up the house in the first movie. Here's a small excerpt: That night Kevin McCallister stayed up late cleaning his house. He picked up the toys the bad guys had slipped on, and went to get the electric barbecue starter, which was still hang- ing on the front door.

[@Maxinidas]

A great movie. I did always wonder how Kevin got the house so clean after the "Wet Bandits" incident. Seriously... the fan that blew feathers would have taken at least a whole day to clean up. But by the next morning only Harry's gold tooth remains...

[@BC92Se7en]

Kevin hired the cleanup crew from John Wick

[@alexisdominey6487]

One of the major reasons this works so well is the technology and resources available to Kevin at the time.

[@plawson8577]

I was there in 1990. Home Alone was a Phenomenon. In out-of-nowhere Box Office Hurricane that completely Swept EVERYTHING away. The Big Drawl that Weekend in mid November was Rocky 5, but when you look at what opened that weekend, it’s not surprising that Home Alone was a Smash. The fascinating thing is that Home Alone had Hercules like legs in the Box Office. It stayed #1 for three months and didn’t hit Video until the Early Summer of 1991.

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

A Production Fact: Everyone on-set was amazed with how mature and professional Macaulay Culkin was. Joe Pesci told Entertainment Weekly, "Mac is not like a nine-year-old. He's an old man already."

[@ezelfrancisco1349]

That’s sweet but knowing what Macaulay Culkin went through, kind of sad

[@trapez77]

@@ezelfrancisco1349he ain’t go through ish, every child actor has to come up with a sob story and act like thier childhood wasnt amazing so they can play victim and try to relate to the commoners

[@yourclairygodmother]

​@trapez77 Sometimes those "sob stories" are true, hon. Many children go through hardships that still affect them as adults. You should have more sympathy for kids and adults!

[@Thoralmir]

​@ezelfrancisco1349 You think that's bad, look up the kid that played the original Dennis the Menace.

[@yourclairygodmother]

@@Thoralmir What happened to him?

[@Turbo_Waitress]

First Mrs Doubtfire, now this? Loving all this turn of the 90s comedy coverage! I hope at some point you do “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” at some point!

[@Disney65Fan]

My favourite Christmas movie of all time. Never fails to make me laugh and cry in the end.

[@Youngtinman]

What I like about this movie is that it gets the balance of Kevin being unlucky and Kevin being a brat perfect. On the one hand he is snubbed from watching the movie with the other kids without anything else to do, he has his cheese pizza eaten on him and it wouldn’t have hurt to help him pack his bag. As a youngest sibling myself I can really relate to this sense of everyone around you expecting you to be as grown up as them and treating you like an idiot forgetting they also were a child who needed help doing stuff like packing a suitcase too. However, he is still a needless petulant nuisance, he lies down on folded clothes, pesters his mum on the phone and plain attacks his brother. It strikes a balance where you dont want to punch Kevin in the face when he snaps at his mum (like most movies with a ‘child snaps at parent’ trope) yet you still don’t hate the family fir being rude and neglectful.

[@garrettschnaufer9983]

Harry getting shot in the nuts at 18:48 always makes laugh so hard I kept rewinding that scene so much because of the sound, the reaction, and the scene is really funny.

[@matthewfiscus2]

I’m as old as this movie and I still watch it every December. In my top 3 holiday movies. You’re absolutely correct on it being in between brutally violent and extremely heartwarming. Plus it’s full of just Christmas joy. A true classic. Fun fact: Daniel Stern(Marv) actually does step on ornaments when going through the window. They are candy but still ow. That’s dedication.

[@ForOrAgainstUs]

What are the other two?!

[@matthewfiscus2]

If I had to pick. National Lampons and Planes Trains and Automobiles

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

A Sad Fact: John Candy shared all of his screentime with Catherine O'Hara. The two previously worked together on SCTV (1976), and were good friends. Candy died on O'Hara's 40th birthday, and O'Hara gave a tearful eulogy at his funeral.

[@James11111]

15:37 My takeaway is that he saw the movie himself at some point but can't quite remember, rather than actually knowing a guy named Snakes.

[@Wildcat_Media]

This movie came out when I was eight and I never realized how big this movie was until I was older. I just knew it was everywhere and we LOVED it. It’s an absolute classic and I can’t imagine Christmas without it.

[@plawson8577]

I was turning 8 when it came out. And Doug had just turned 9.

[@treyowen9213]

This movie was basically a “try not to swear” challenge for Joe Pesci. 😂🤣

[@nsasupporter7557]

Right lol 😂 I can’t believe he was even in this movie anyway. He just did another movie the same year that he won an Oscar for (Goodfellas) and he’s gonna costar in a movie like this?! I can definitely see Daniel Stern in it, but Joe Pesci?? Come on, dude

[@GlitchyHalo]

@@nsasupporter7557Daniel Stern did this movie right after Little Monsters same with Devon (Buzz) but unlike Joes experience that movie flopped because it went bankrupt right before released so it only was shown in 179 theatres It’s funny as it was basically Home Alone before Home Alone as it had Daniel and Devon and Brian making Home Alone like traps ans gadgets plus like Doug said Fred Savage is good at playing characters who are kids who act like adults

[@DisneyDancer1990]

My Mom saw this in theatres when it first came out just a few days before I was born. I always feel like this movie is somehow part of my soul and I love it so much.

[@dorothyallspice1862]

Wow, that’s really amazing.

[@nsasupporter7557]

I was born in 87, so I was 3 when it came out but I never saw it in theaters. But I watched it religiously as a kid

[@plawson8577]

@@nsasupporter7557Born December 1982 here. The Home Alone phenomenon was just a moment in time that brought in that Xennial Kid angst into pure focus in the American microcosm. I was there. I’ve never forgotten it.

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@plawson8577 I loved the sequel as well but had mixed feelings about the 3rd movie. It was nice seeing a different family and different plot but the villains were far fetched in the 3rd one

[@plawson8577]

@@nsasupporter7557 Went to go see HA 2 as well with my kid brother. Mom Hated it.

[@chance_ondriezek99]

John Williams’ score made a great film into a perfect one. Easily one of my favorite Christmas movies

[@gars129]

The fact that this was just another movie to anyone born before 1990 is mindblowing. I was born in 93 and this movie feels like it has always existed and will always be massive.

[@nsasupporter7557]

I was born in 87, so I was only 3 when it was released. So I didn’t see it in theaters but I watched it religiously growing up as a kid

[@GlitchyHalo]

also this was only a year after little monsters which Daniel and Devon were both in and surprisingly the main character Brian built a few home alone like traps like Doug said Fred Savage was good playing kids who acted like adults at times

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@GlitchyHalo I thought Little Monsters was 88, not 89

[@catsmom129]

Yeah, I was in college in 1990. I like Home Alone, but I’ll never put in the same category as say, It’s a Wonderful Life or the 1930s version of Miracle on 34th Street. I view it as a modern film and the others as old timey classics.

[@nsasupporter7557]

@@catsmom129 Miracle on 34th Street came out in 1947, not the 30s 😉

[@ChristianGabino]

Chris Columbus is one of the excellent filmmakers that he directed his two films in the late 80s such as *Adventures in Babysitting (1987)* & *Heartbreak Hotel (1988)* before he directed the FIRST TWO Home Alone films in the early 90s with Macaulay Culkin. And then after the TWO Home Alone films, he went on to go direct TWO Robin Williams films such as *Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)* & *Bicentennial Man (1999)* And then into the early 2000s he Directed the two Harry Potter films 1. *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)* 2. *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)*

[@plawson8577]

Both were utter bombs. Columbus was told that if Home Alone flopped, he would be blacklisted from further directing gigs.

[@billjacobs521]

@@plawson8577 He listed four pairs of movies; which ones are you referring to?

[@deshawnedwards6412]

A great way to start the holiday review and to also complete the Home Alone reviews.

[@fairlyoddenginecreations]

Mcalister was every kid's inspiration when they first saw this movie, no wonder it became a dictionary definition classic

[@voidastralbirth]

It really is incredible to think that Doug has reviewed pretty much every Home Alone movie EXCEPT for the original. That changes tonight! Also Happy 33rd anniversary Home Alone!

[@BanoraRuins]

i absolutely forgot how betrayed he sounded with the "marv, what are you doin??? marv..." oh my god. i felt that in my soul.

[@KingsNerdCave]

It's a fantastic heart-warming and hilarious Christmas film. The cast delivers perfect performances especially between Kevin and Marley. Angels with Filthy Souls is forever quotable. Also fun fact, Joe Pesci had those great reactions to getting hit but he was so used to angrily swearing from the mobster movies he did, he asked the director if he could do that mumbled Yosemite Sam cursing, to avoid actually cursing out of instinct.

[@Logitah]

To be honest, the mumble-cursing is WAY funnier than actual cursing. 😂

[@KingsNerdCave]

oh for sure@@Logitah

[@Logitah]

@@KingsNerdCave What's also funny is when a curse word is replaced with another similar-sounding word or a funny euphemism is used. :D

[@joshjohnson6891]

Gotta love how John Candy has a role in this one too, which is like half of a travel-film. It's like his role from Planes Trains and Automobiles is just hanging out in other John Hughes movies. He should have had the giant chest in Home Alone 😅

[@plawson8577]

He only got paid $450 for it, but was such a warm guy that he never confronted Columbus about it. When he passed away in March of 1994, Hughes wrote a check for his wife and children of $40,000 trying to reimburse Candy for his cameo part.

[@3ShotTGK]

Candy was always a gift in every film he was in.

[@Sonicandlaytonfan]

Even though Buzz always seems to compliment Kevin at the end of these, I’d still want to his reaction to how lethal Kevin can be. Almost makes me wish we at least got a nostalgic commercial or heck even a series where Kevin finally has the last laugh on him. Heck the rest of the family’s reaction would be just as funny.

[@robertbrookes2000]

Finally my Nostalgia Critic Home Alone series is complete. Would love to see a full video on The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the wardrobe. Love to watch it at Christmas, has some charming child acting, some surprisingly hilarious lines (he's a beaver, he shouldn't be saying anything), and like the best charming British family films is has some really sad & dark moments.

[@curtissiebold4460]

Don't forget the old man's hand throughout the film. It heals throughout the movie and when he waves at the end it's completely healed. Not sure what they were trying to say with that symbolism if anything but it's a nice touch. They do deliberately show you his hand all throughout and the different stages of healing.

[@thenerdwholovesentertainme1721]

Home Alone 1 & 2 are still one of my favorite christmas movies i love to rewatch every year.

[@youthoughtaboutit6946]

Ironically, the first sequel is actually my favorite home alone movie 😅

[@artsman412]

I have 5 siblings and I can confirm, Doug, holidays and trips can make everyone kinda awful to each other at times (myself included).

[@oooh19]

Seems like they’re awful all the time like letting Buzz get away with bullying but that’s sadly realistic

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

A Music Fact: John Williams stepped in when the original composer backed out. The filmmakers jokingly suggested Williams even though they never thought they could get him, but after he saw an early cut of the movie, he was "enchanted" and happily stepped in.

[@plawson8577]

The Original Composer was Bruce Broughton, he had to bail out because he was busy with Tiny Toon Adventures and Rescuers Down Under.

[@gamerguy19981]

For me Home Alone 1 & 2 are the perfect one two punch combination. Yes, the sequel does a lot of the same jokes and plot stuff from the first, doesn't mean I like it any less. If there had been a true thirds movie with Kevin I think the series would have overstayed it's welcome. But every holiday season it's impossible for me to watch one without the other. I always have to watch them together in sequence. Both films have such a special place in my heart togehter that I can't enjoy them separately. Also if you haven’t seen the documentary on how the first film was made, I HIGHLY encourage it

[@georgeeastwood6930]

This movie has actually been selected for preservation into the National Film Registry in 2023, alongside “The Nightmare Before Christmas” & “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”! 😊

[@ErichoTTA]

11:20 In "Home Alone 2", he said, "Happy Hanukkah, Marv!", so I think the Critic's right.

[@koneheadcokehead4981]

I still truly think one of the best ways to celebrate just the holiday season in general is just by watching this movie

[@chasehedges6775]

Soooo true. It’s a Christmas Classic

[@Omar-wq9dz]

And the 2nd one

[@chasehedges6775]

@@Omar-wq9dz 💯

[@ninjanibba4259]

Meh, it never hit for me

[@jaygooese4242]

Wonderful!:-)

[@ghostchaser1631]

The first Home Alone movie is so classic that it has finally achieved a coveted pillar of merchandising; a really cool Lego set. Of course it's hard to find and even if you do it will set you back three hundred dollars (Kevin would probably have to cash in Harry's gold tooth for it), but it does look awesome, in fact I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned it yet. Oh yeah, and it's one of my all time favorite Christmas movies. Keep da change ya filty animal!

[@legendre007]

I always love how Danny Elfman’s fancy version of “Carol of the Bells” plays during the montage where Kevin sets the traps.

[@MrDusty515]

That’s John Williams, not Danny Elfman, who provides the musical score for Home Alone

[@SgtScorpious]

Elfman was probably busy with Batman Returns at the time

[@plawson8577]

John “Star Wars and Superman Theme” Williams composed Home Alone’s music.

[@plawson8577]

@@SgtScorpiousAnd Broughton was busy with Tiny Toons and Rescuers Down Under which is why Williams was brought on.

[@davemort9166]

Also... kudos to John William's score it does provide the emotion in the emotional scenes

[@JLM1883]

I saw this movie in theaters when was 7yrs old, it was the only time I've fallen out of my seat from laughing. Three decades later, and even watching clips in a review have me laughing.

[@plawson8577]

I was turning 8 when it first came out.

[@dinosaysrawr]

Malcolm has been a positive influence on Doug. That fursuit quip was unexpected gold.

[@jsevestjanova]

It's so nice to watch these because having someone so perfectly put into words why you love something so much is very cathartic! It makes me appreciate the movie even more.

[@iggyp4390]

After so many years watching this film, I can’t believe it only dawned on me when I watched it a few days ago that the old man is basically a Santa/Father Christmas figure. Kevin goes looking for Santa for help and finds the Mall Santa and receives more candy “that will rot my teeth and my mind.” Then later in the scene in the church, Kevin’s interaction with an old bearded man teaches him the importance of family and the true meaning of Christmas. I always forget how beautifully done that whole scene is.

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

8:43 Yes, you are on the money, Doug. That's literally just the walkways under the O'Hare Hilton. This is made more obvious in a later scene when Kate is boarding her flight out of ORY; she's clearly still at ORD since you can see an Eastern Airlines plane outside the gate window, and Eastern never served ORY or CDG.

[@ohm_sweet_ohm]

This is the perfect film to kick off the holiday season! I didn't grow up watching Home Alone, but it's executed so perfectly that I only needed to see it once before considering it a Christmas classic. Speaking of, watching these Christmas reviews has become a favorite holiday tradition of mine and I can't wait to see what the coming month brings!

[@ChannelAwesome]

Perfect movie to watch during the Christmas season

[@havdroid9769]

Day 59 waiting for the ,,G-force" movie review by the ,,Nostalgia Critic" Pretty please!

[@bdillmore40]

I was born in 1998, and for as long as I can remember, this movie has been a staple in my household every year during December! I gotta agree with you, this is just such a well done movie from start to finish. The directing, the cast, the locations, and of course the music! John Candy's performance cannot be understated as nothing short of amazing! RIP to an absolute legend!

[@ReynaReactsandReviews]

The review I’ve been waiting for since the last home alone movie he reviewed. This movie is such a classic

[@MrLyosea]

8:50 I just realized donut operator guy (Larry Hankin) is the same guy who played the guy playing Kramer in the Seinfeld pilot episode(guy screaming at George after caught eating raisins).

[@yoda908]

This movie is so much a classic it spawned a couple of Google commercials with Macaulay Culkin and Joe Pesci. Fun fact; the movie Angels with filthy souls is actually a reference to an actual movie called Angels with dirty faces and is a 1938 gangster flick.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

My all time favorite christmas classic! You guys are the Best 😊😊😊😊😊

[@philliphernandez2649]

Mine too! Next to A Christmas Story!

[@MrDusty515]

Home Alone is truly a one of a kind, it is definitely one of my all time favorite Christmas movies and every sequel could never truly capture the heart and spirit of what made this movie such a phenomenal movie. Home Alone 2 did come close but I always try to make it a point to watch this film every single year around the holiday season.

[@davidsharp5966]

I believe the last scene with Marley and the son was a last minute addition. Originally the film ended with Kevin's line, "Just hanging around." And freeze frame.

[@plawson8577]

Correct.

[@Irish_Wristwatch101]

I watched this so much as a kid I basically had the show memorized down to the sounds. One day my dad and grandparents tested me while I was playing the SNES and they played one of the scenes where the cop was knocking on the door, only playing the knock, I told them exactly what happened before and after the knock.

[@silverwings21]

20:40 Even when I watched it back in 1990, I was thinking he could have a cordless phone.

[@austinc.2156]

Still my favorite christmas movie, it's mandatory viewing for me every year during the holidays

[@TheFrugalVideoGamer]

One I would *love* to see you review - "Klaus", the Netflix 2d movie that provides an origin story for Santa, who's played by J.K. Simmons of all people. And it is, in my opinion, an instant Christmas classic.

[@seanmccallum6558]

15:47 John Candy makes everything better. Except maybe a Thanksgiving road trip.

[@cpkgrownup9496]

The funniest thing to me when watching this as an adult is imagining old man Marley saving Kevin from Harry and just sending him home without thinking, ‘hey maybe I should let his parents know he was nearly murdered tonight.’

[@patrickjohnson1649]

In the Original Script, Robert Blossums Character Marley: Wasn’t in it. It was only after some Rewrites, the Subplot was Added, and was arguably made into a Classic.