The family of poor little dumped-upon Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) has rushed off to catch their holiday plane and accidentally left him behind. Now they’re in Paris, frantically trying to reach him, and he’s home alone, where a storm has knocked out the telephones, the neighbors are away for the holiday and the houses on the street are being systematically cleaned out by a team of burglars.
Generally perceived by his family as a helpless, hopeless little geek, Kevin is at first delighted to be rid of them, gorging on forbidden pleasures like junk food and violent videos, but when the bandits (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) begin circling his house, he realizes he’s on his own to defend the place.
Kevin proves he’s not such a loser by defending the fort with wits and daring and by the time Mom (Catherine O’Hara) comes rushing back from Europe, everything’s in order.
A firstrate production in which every element contributes to the overall smartly realized tone, pic boasts wonderful casting, with Culkin a delight as funny, resilient Kevin, and O’Hara bringing a snappy, zesty energy to the role of mom. Pesci is aces in the role of slippery housebreaker Harry, who does a Two Stooges routine with lanky side-kick Stern.
1990: Nominations: Best Original Score, Song (‘Somewhere in My Memory’)
