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On the podcast this time, Steven and Sean are joined by special guest, Jenny Scott, to discuss child abandonment, home invasion, and life threatening booby traps in the 1990 film from Chris Columbus, Home Alone.

One thing I’m wondering is if this movie could happen today, or is it an accident that could only be possible before the advent of cell phones and the internet? My sneaking suspicion is this wouldn’t be possible now. You could always be in easy contact with your child.

More importantly, news of this incident would spread far and wide in an instant. You’d face social disgrace and probably have your face appear on several local news stations. “Tonight at 11:00, inept parent of young child ABANDONS them while going on holiday with rest of family. Boo! Hiss!”

I think that’s the wrong tactic to take. It’s the inevitable one, sure, but look at all the good that young Kevin McAllister did during his family-less time:

• He took care of the laundry.
• He purchased all the food he needed from his local market and fed himself.
• He overcame his fear of the monster furnace in the basement.
• He helped reunite an older neighbor with his estranged son and his granddaughter.
• He foiled the robbery attempt of his own home by the Wet Bandits, and consequently, saved all the other homes in his and other neighborhoods from being burgled.

 

Frankly, he’s a hero in my book. Now, I’m not suggesting that more parents leave their too-young children at home while they go gallivanting away in France. Intentionally doing that should land you on the local news. I think Kevin made it out all right, and if you raise your kids to be respectful and resourceful, then they’ll probably make it through even the worst situations.

(Recorded on November 11, 2021)

Links to Stuff We Mentioned:

Home Alone - IMDb

Home Alone trailer - YouTube

Chris Columbus - IMDb

Macaulay Culkin - IMDb

Joe Pesci - IMDb

Daniel Stern - IMDb

Catherine O’Hara - IMDb

Roberts Blossom - IMDb

Micro Machines - Wikipedia

Blast from the Past (1999) - IMDb

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) - IMDb

John Goodman - IMDb

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021) - IMDb

Batman (1989) - IMDb

Christian Bale - IMDb

How I Met Your Mother (TV Series 2005–2014) - IMDb

Home Alone: 25th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition - Amazon

(This is the paint bucket collector’s edition set that Steven reveals during the episode. It is marvelous.)

“Just Me In The House By Myself” starring Macaulay Culkin & Jack Dishel | :DRYVRS - YouTube

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