Watching Home Alone as an Adult is All Messed Up
I have always been perplexed by the treatment of Kevin in the classic holiday movie, Home Alone. While he may not have been the perfect child, his family's treatment of him was truly cruel and unwarranted.
From his parents to his siblings to his cousins, Kevin was constantly belittled and belittled. Even when he was left behind by mistake, rather than showing concern for their son, his family seems more focused on their own holiday plans and getting rid of him as quickly as possible.
One can't help but wonder what the motivations behind this treatment were. Was it simply that Kevin was an inconvenience to them? Or perhaps there was more to it. Maybe the McCallisters were in financial trouble and had taken out a life insurance policy on Kevin, making his untimely demise financially beneficial to them. Or maybe Kevin was the result of an unplanned pregnancy that his parents regretted.
Regardless of the reason, it's clear that the McCallister family was far from perfect. In fact, they were downright awful to Kevin. And while Kevin may have had his mischievous moments, he didn't deserve the constant mistreatment from his family.
It's clear that the McCallister family was a bunch of jerks, not only to Kevin but potentially to each other as well.
Perhaps they should have taken a page from Kevin's book and focused on the true meaning of the holiday season: family, love, and togetherness. But alas, they were too busy being selfish and cruel to each other.
However, there's a different take on all of this.
While it's understandable that some viewers may see the McCallister family's treatment of Kevin in Home Alone as cruel and unwarranted, it's important to remember that the movie is meant to be viewed from a child's perspective. As such, Kevin's perception of his family's behavior may be exaggerated and not necessarily reflective of their true intentions.
In fact, the lack of patience, bullying, and overall rudeness that Kevin experiences from his family may be the exaggerated perception of a child that age.
This perspective is written in a way that allows young viewers to empathize with a character who always feels neglected and antagonized. While the movie takes this neglect to an extreme level for the sake of its absurd premise, it ultimately serves to highlight the importance of family and togetherness during the holiday season.
In the end, the McCallister family's behavior towards Kevin undergoes a complete transformation, and he is suddenly the beloved and appreciated focal point of everyone's affection. This satisfying resolution likely wouldn't have been as effective had the family not been portrayed as a bunch of jerks earlier in the movie.