The Rewatchables: ‘Home Alone’ With Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, and Mina Kimes

Published 2020-11-17; 1:41:13 by the feed.

Awards and segments (66)

Most rewatchable scene

  1. floated The McAllister family chaos at the start, introducing the characters and setting Kevin up as a brat who could be left behind
    “I have, just in general, the family chaos in the beginning.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:25:04
  2. floated Kevin's shopping and shoplifting scenes, the Michael Jordan holiday party and the supermarket cashier
    “Love Kevin shoplifting, although I think it's, you know, it's a sad indictment of how easy it is to slip into a life of crime in this country”
    Chris Ryan · 0:25:51
  3. floated Kate and the Polka King at the airport, John Candy's introduction
    “Um, Kate and the Polka King at the airport, just John Candy's introduction.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:27:00
  4. floated Kevin's conversation with the fake Santa Claus
    “A low-key moment that has always been a personal favor of mine is Kevin's, Kevin's conversation with the fake Santa Claus.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:27:10
  5. floated The Christmas choir scene where Kevin gets Mr. Marley's backstory
    “I also have the Christmas choir scene where he sort of gets Mr. Marley's backstory and it's it's probably the most holiday centric moment in the in the movie.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:28:23
  6. floated The final robbery, a 22 minute tour de force of physical comedy
    “Uh, I have the final robbery, which, you know, is, as we've noted, a 22 minute tour de force of physical comedy”
    Chris Ryan · 0:29:00
  7. floated The reunion: Catherine O'Hara's arrival and the siblings showing up with 30 seconds of interest in Kevin
    “and then the reunion, which is actually, like, I thought last night when I watched this movie, it was like, oh, this is really kind of note perfect, is Catherine O'Hare's final arrival”
    Chris Ryan · 0:29:18
  8. pick The pizza delivery comes back and Kevin uses the movie (Angels with Filthy Souls) to scare the pizza guy off
    “I thought I felt like the most obvious choice is when the pizza delivery comes back and he uses the film.”
    Mina Kimes · 0:29:46
  9. floated The family chaos in the beginning, the child's-eye view of everyone yelling
    “I too liked the chaos in the beginning and it's sort of the introduction to the POV style where it shows from, it's like what it was like to be a child and have everyone yelling at you”
    Mina Kimes · 0:30:25
  10. floated The clever setup of how the family leaves Kevin behind: the storm, the head count, the rush to the airport
    “the setup for how they left him behind was really cleverly written, which I didn't absorb again as a 10 year old.”
    Mina Kimes · 0:30:39
  11. floated Catherine O'Hara and John Heard on the plane trying to figure out what they forgot, with Kevin screaming
    “I think of Catherine O'Hara and John Hurd talking on the plane and trying to figure out what they forgot.”
    Sean Fennessey · 0:31:15
  12. floated Kevin's first day home alone indulging kid fantasies: jumping on the bed, the giant sundae, Angels with Filthy Souls
    “The 1st 2 days a lot or the 1st day where he's home alone a lot when he does all the indulges in all the kid fantasies, the jumping on the bed, eating like a 16 scoop sundae”
    Mina Kimes · 0:32:33

What's aged the best · What about the movie holds up best today.

  1. nominee The physical comedy and stunts, such as Pesci's front flip on the iced stairs: Still amazing to the speaker.
    “The physical comedy in this movie and the stunts are actually is just absolutely amazing.”
    unknown · 0:39:13
  2. nominee John Hughes's Chicago suburbs lit up with Christmas decorations: Set in Winnetka, with a city visibly nearby.
    “I got to say, I'm still just in the bag for John Hughes's Chicago suburbs, and especially when they're all lit up with the Christmas decorations.”
    unknown · 0:39:46
  3. nominee How a kid would eat if he was alone: Ties it to the junk he and Sean ate before sports practice as kids.
    “How a kid would eat if he was alone.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:40:15
  4. winner The siblings and big-family dynamics: Chris can't vouch for it as an only child; Sean and Mina say it rings true.
    “Okay, so we'll go with suburban Chicago and the and the and the way the siblings interact.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:45:41
  5. winner Suburban Chicago: The family and suburban experience is called pretty on point.
    “Okay, so we'll go with suburban Chicago and the and the and the way the siblings interact.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:45:41

What's aged the worst · What about the movie holds up worst today.

  1. nominee 1990 televisions and the surround sound Angels with Filthy Souls supposedly produces: A small portable TV would not scare off the pizza guy or the burglars; the others were not with him.
    “I just want to point out that I do not think that 1990 televisions.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:45:48
  2. winner The McAllister family's response and action plan, starting with Kate's vague call to the police: Kate never explains that she left a child behind and nobody follows up; the hosts settle on this one.
    “I think we could just say the McAllister response and the action plan is not great.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:55:57
  3. nominee John Candy inviting Catherine O'Hara into the van full of men: Would be approached differently if made now; Chris calls it the last hitchhiking movie.
    “The scene where John Candy invites, um, Catherine O'Hara to get in the van full of men and driveway.”
    Mina Kimes · 0:54:50
  4. nominee The pre-9/11 airport, with Kate bargaining for someone's ticket: Can't buy a first class ticket off someone in line anymore.
    “You can't really like buy someone's 1st class ticket while they're online.”
    unknown · 0:55:32
  5. nominee Harry and Marv's burglary business model: Questions how burglars make money on family heirloom garbage.
    “Conversely, can we also examine Harry and Marv's plan?”
    Chris Ryan · 0:52:22

Casting what ifs · Almost-castings and recasts.

  1. pick Robert De Niro as Harry: Almost cast as Harry.
    “We had Robert De Niro, almost as Harry, John Lovitz also was up for the role of Harry”
    Chris Ryan · 0:57:25
  2. pick Jon Lovitz as Harry: Also up for Harry.
    “John Lovitz also was up for the role of Harry”
    Chris Ryan · 0:57:25
  3. pick Kelsey Grammer as Uncle Frank: The Uncle Frank role was written for him.
    “Kelsey Grammer, the role of Uncle Frank, was actually written for Kelsey Grammer, but wound up going to.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:57:25
  4. pick Al Pacino as Uncle Frank: Recast pick: Pacino as Uncle Frank rather than in the Pesci role.
    “I think Pacino should have played Uncle Frank.”
    unknown · 1:22:53
  5. pick Marlon Brando as Marley: Joke continuation of the McAllister-men-as-mafiosos recast.
    “Marlon Brando is Marley.”
    unknown · 1:23:12

Dion Waiters Award · Honors people who make the most of limited playing time.

  1. nominee Kieran Culkin as Fuller: Hardly a line; Fuller, go easy on the Pepsis.
    “Karen Culkin as Fuller.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:58:10
  2. nominee John Candy as Gus Polinski, the Polka King
    “John Candy, as the Polka King.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:58:33
  3. winner Devin Ratray as Buzz: Chris thinks Ratray takes it; the others agree and note Buzz is arguably the third most prominent character.
    “I got to say, I think Devin Ratroy takes this, but I'll listen to John Candy.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:00:20
  4. nominee Jeffrey Wiseman as Mitch Murphy: A dark horse: the inquisitive neighbor who questions the guys in the van.
    “Jeffrey Wiseman is Mitch Murphy.”
    unknown · 0:58:51
  5. nominee Gerry Bamman as Uncle Frank: Steals scenes, such as trying to get his wife to steal the crystal in first class.
    “I thought Uncle Frank steals a few scenes.”
    unknown · 0:59:26
  6. nominee Roberts Blossom as Old Man Marley: Mina asked if Marley was eligible; Chris called him more a solid role player than a heat check but allowed the nomination.
    “I think he was more of like a solid role player.”
    Chris Ryan · 0:59:50
  7. nominee Larry Hankin as Officer Balzac
    “Okay. So I guess I get I guess Officer Balzac.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:00:13

Apex Mountain · Where this performance or movie sits on the mountain of the performer's career or of its genre.

  1. winner Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McAllister: Home Alone is his apex, with Sean's caveat about the Black or White video and the run that continued.
    “No, I guess we'll go Apex Mountain Macaulay Culkin with Sean's caveat that the run continued.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:05:09
  2. nominee Joe Pesci as Harry: The hosts note Pesci came off Goodfellas and became a leading man after this, but Chris skipped over him.
    “Yeah, I guess I skipped over him for Apex Mountain.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:09:17
  3. pick Home Alone, among Christmas movies: Not the peak of Christmas movies; A Christmas Story probably tops it, though Home Alone is top 10.
    “Home Alone is definitely a classic. It is in the top 10 Christmas movies. But it's probably not Apex Mountain for Christmas movies.”
    unknown · 1:03:34

Joey Pants Award · Best that guy: the familiar face in a small role.

  1. pick Kenneth Hudson Campbell as Santa: Also Max in Armageddon and the man in the hall in Groundhog Day.
    “We mentioned Kenneth Hudson Campbell as Santa. He played Max in Armageddon.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:05:17
  2. pick Billie Bird and Bill Irwin as the older couple who sell their plane ticket to Kate
    “I feel like Billy Bird and Bill Irwin, the older couple who sell their their plane ticket to Kate.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:05:23
  3. pick Angela Goethals as Linnie: Also in Jerry Maguire; Chris once hung out with her at Vassar.
    “Angela Gothals, who plays um, Linny and also is in Jerry Maguire, hung out with her one night at Vassar.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:05:41
  4. pick Larry Hankin as Officer Balzac: Someone who crops up all the time.
    “I think Larry Hankin, who I mentioned in Dion Waiters as well. The cop is somebody who crops up all the time.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:06:25

Overacting award · Best overacting in the movie.

  1. winner Gerry Bamman as Uncle Frank: Won for his look what you did, you little jerk delivery.
    “So I think for I'll give Uncle Frank Jerry Baman.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:10:28
  2. nominee Joe Pesci as Harry: Three Stooges and Yosemite Sam style comedy.
    “That's why I put them in in the Linda Partridge overacting award.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:09:59
  3. nominee Daniel Stern as Marv
    “That's why I put them in in the Linda Partridge overacting award.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:09:59

Half-assed internet research · Trivia and fan theories the hosts looked up about the movie.

  1. pick Joe Pesci was difficult on set and wanted 9 holes of golf before work
    “So the director of photography, uh, Julio McCat, he remembered Pesci being more difficult to work with than Colkin.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:10:35
  2. pick John Hughes got the idea by thinking what he'd most fear leaving behind on vacation
    “The movie came about because John Hughes, who's a genius in a lot of ways, just thought to himself, what would be the thing that I would be most afraid of like leaving behind on a vacation and a child?”
    Chris Ryan · 1:12:30
  3. pick Fan theories: Peter McAllister is a mob boss, Marley is Kevin from the future, Kevin is a ghost or Jigsaw
    “there are a lot of theories about the dark underbelly of home alone floating around out there.”
    Mina Kimes · 1:18:07
  4. pick Marley was not in the original Hughes script and was added later
    “I thought that was so interesting that Marley was not in the original Hugh script and that they introduced that character in that whole storyline”
    Mina Kimes · 1:21:15

Picking Nits · Nitpicks of a movie they love.

  1. pick How Kevin cleaned up the house by the next morning
    “How did he clean up the house?”
    unknown · 1:23:30
  2. pick Kevin is not lined up on the sled to go out the door; there is a half wall in the way
    “Kevin is not lined up properly on his sled to go out the door.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:24:39
  3. pick The unbelievable Rube Goldberg torture traps
    “The unbelievability of the Rube Goldberg like torture.”
    Mina Kimes · 1:25:36
  4. pick Little Nero's: 10 pies for $122, and pizza prices have not changed since 1990
    “little Nero's, 10 pies, 122 bucks.”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:25:52
  5. pick Kevin is remarkably fearless during the robbery sequence
    “he is like remarkably fearless during that part, which I thought was unrealistic.”
    Mina Kimes · 1:13:51
  6. pick Kevin showering every day while home alone
    “Do we buy that a child left home alone would shower every day?”
    Chris Ryan · 1:32:12

Best quote · Favorite lines from the movie.

  1. pick Buzz: no, for 3 reasons... we live on the most boring street in the United States
    “My favorite quote in this movie by far is when he's talking to his sister and she's like, well, don't you think something could happen to him?”
    Chris Ryan · 1:27:35
  2. pick Buzz asking if French babes don't shave their pits
    “I also enjoyed Buzz, is he the one who says, is it true that French babes don't shave their pits at the beginning?”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:28:05
  3. pick Kevin opening the Playboy: no clothes on anybody, sickening
    “I also like Kevin's quotes, there's Buzz your girlfriend, Wolf, when he's in Buzz's room, but when he opens the Playboy”
    Mina Kimes · 1:28:31
  4. pick Harry, it's our calling card. All the great ones leave their mark. We're the wet bandits.
    “You left the water running, didn't you?”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:30:10
  5. pick Kevin's confessions to himself when alone: I'm eating junk and watching rubbish
    “I think all the stuff that Kevin says when he's by himself.”
    Mina Kimes · 1:30:26

What if it were made as a show · The sequel, prequel or TV show they would make.

  1. pick A Cobra Kai style show from the wet bandits' point of view, terrorized by a child 10 years later
    “What you could do is do a Cobra Kai style wet bandits, we were terrorized by a child 10 years later trying to rebuild our lives.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:34:34

Possibly unanswerable questions · Questions the movie leaves open.

  1. pick Was that actually Buzz's girlfriend?
    “Was that actually Buzz's girlfriend?”
    Mina Kimes · 1:35:56
  2. pick Did Frank's family also leave Paris?
    “Did Frank's family also leave Paris?”
    Mina Kimes · 1:36:17
  3. pick How did Marley know the burglars were in the neighbor's house, and why didn't he intervene earlier?
    “How did Marley know that they were in the neighbor's house? Because at the very end, they're not in Kevin's house.”
    Mina Kimes · 1:36:31
  4. pick Did Kevin have PTSD for the rest of his life?
    “Do you think Kevin had post-traumatic stress disorder for the rest of his life?”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:38:04

Who won the movie · Who came out ahead from the movie.

  1. winner Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McAllister: Declared unanimous; he is in almost every frame.
    “Okay, so Macaulay Culcom won the movie.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:40:28
  2. pick Warner Brothers, who lost the movie by refusing a budget increase before it moved to Fox: Named as who lost the movie, not a winner.
    “Can I tell you who lost the movie?”
    Sean Fennessey · 1:39:21

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