Stands the test of time

Rating: 7/10 (7 August 2003)

I must confess: I really like "Home Alone". It's part of popular culture for good reason. I'm not going to try and defend Culkin's acting, except to say that worse child performances than his have been considered charming (as in the somewhat overrated "A Christmas Story"). This movie is charming, memorable, indeed touching, and perfectly paced so that the hilariously extreme violence that is its trademark (a really fresh perspective on slapstick, in my opinion) starts late and builds to an actual climax. By contrast, most of the movies in this genre drag on and on with no real development and little cohesion, and could end at almost any arbitrary moment, i.e. "Baby Geniuses", "Mouse Hunt", "Look Who's Talking Too". (Why did I ever watch those, anyway?) Anyway, very well made, good supporting performances, shouldn't be dissed.