The ghosts of Christmas movies past
Here, the wreath, and of course the storm itself, represents divine intervention. The Old Man Marley character is also a name check to Jacob Marley in Dickens’ tale.
We also see a scene from How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), where the Grinch is stealing Christmas presents (28:43). This thievery represents greed and, again, human wantonness. It also draws a direct parallel between the Grinch and Harry and Marv.
Speaking in French, George asks for time to think it over, before realizing Potter is trying to lead him to his doom and damnation. “No, no, no, no!” George exclaims, turning down Potter’s offer (46:14). Similarly, Kevin will reject the devil and human wantonness as the movie progresses.
In many respects, the entire Home Alone movie is a riff on It’s a Wonderful Life. Instead of wishing he’d “never been born,” as George Bailey does – a wish that becomes granted – Kevin wishes he “never had a family.” Similarly, Kevin’s wish is granted, and, eventually, he has second thoughts.
Throughout the movie, we see Kate, as well as her husband, using and abusing their wealth, privilege, and sense of entitlement. Over time, the McCallisters run up against their limits.
Note that the McCallister’s house is audaciously large. As The New York Times noted in a 2023 article, the McCallisters are the one percent. The house is the “silver tuna,” as Harry calls it.
“That house is the only reason we starting working this block in the first place. Ever since I laid eyes on that house, I wanted it!” Harry says (1:02:16).
First it gets knocked over by the pizza delivery person (7:01). Then it gets knocked over by the company coming to take the family to the airport (13:40). In a scene that is not directly shown, it gets knocked over by a policeman coming to check on the house (33:53). Then it gets knocked over again by the pizza deliveryman (47:46). Note that, in this scene, the pizza delivery person is directed to use the back door, a traditional servant’s entrance.
The McCallister’s is in a ‘cavalier spirit’ style. In the movie, the lawn jockey represents the family’s wealth, which middleclass people of lesser means bump up against. It is a not-so-subtle class commentary.
There is a scene from Miracle on 34th Street (1947), where the Santa Claus for the parade is drunk. “It’s disgraceful,” says the actual Saint Nick (18:20). This is the same type of debauchery that Kevin subsequently undertakes, albeit with an ice cream feast.
We also see a scene from How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), where the Grinch is stealing Christmas presents (28:43). This thievery represents greed and, again, human wantonness. It also draws a direct parallel between the Grinch and Harry and Marv.
Finally, we see the McCallister family in Paris watching It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) in French. This is a pivotal scene in that movie and is reflective of Kevin’s own spiritual journey. It is a scene where George Bailey is tempted by Potter (symbolically both the devil and human wantonness) to give up his community work building homes and take a job that promises him riches and individual reward.
Speaking in French, George asks for time to think it over, before realizing Potter is trying to lead him to his doom and damnation. “No, no, no, no!” George exclaims, turning down Potter’s offer (46:14). Similarly, Kevin will reject the devil and human wantonness as the movie progresses.
The lawn jockey
Note that the McCallister’s house is audaciously large. As The New York Times noted in a 2023 article, the McCallisters are the one percent. The house is the “silver tuna,” as Harry calls it.
“That house is the only reason we starting working this block in the first place. Ever since I laid eyes on that house, I wanted it!” Harry says (1:02:16).
At times, various people are literally running up against the McCallister’s wealth and privilege. We continually see the McCallister’s ‘lawn jockey’ get knocked over. In every case, it is by a blue collar worker.
First it gets knocked over by the pizza delivery person (7:01). Then it gets knocked over by the company coming to take the family to the airport (13:40). In a scene that is not directly shown, it gets knocked over by a policeman coming to check on the house (33:53). Then it gets knocked over again by the pizza deliveryman (47:46). Note that, in this scene, the pizza delivery person is directed to use the back door, a traditional servant’s entrance.
Lawn jockeys are statues of a man in jockey clothing, often holding up their hands as if taking the reins of a horse. These were used to welcome guests and to offer a place to tie up horses before becoming purely decorative.
The McCallister’s is in a ‘cavalier spirit’ style. In the movie, the lawn jockey represents the family’s wealth, which middleclass people of lesser means bump up against. It is a not-so-subtle class commentary.