Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 16:32:53 GMT
Director Chris Columbus and writer John Hughes all but admitted Home Alone 2 is a remake of Home Alone with a different backdrop. Not going to go into detail, but the plot is very similar with minor changes.
One of the 'remake' characters is the wise old friend with sage advice. Kevin is afraid of this character, he learns from them, gets inspired to overcome his other fears in life, gets the courage to take on the bad guys, then gets saved by them at the last moment when he's about to be killed.
This central character is a microcosm on Kevin's entire plot. Fear, overcoming fear, and they literally and figuratively save him.
Old Man Marley:
Marley chooses to be alone. He has the misfortune of being mistreated by people who believe rumors about him. He has a great back story. He is a loving grandfather who had an argument with his son and now spends limited time with his granddaughter. Kevin has every right to be afraid of him in the beginning. He is 8 years old, his older brother told him he's a murder. When Kevin is confronted with Old Man Marley at the church, it is organic. His story not only gives him character development, it helps advance the plot. Until this point, Kevin hadn't learned his lesson, he hadn't overcome his fears. This is the pivotal moment in the film where Kevin becomes the hero. Old Man Marley helps him become the hero. Kevin helps him realize life's too short to harbor hatred towards his son. "I don't care how mad I was at my dad" let's Old Man Marley see it through a child's eyes. His son will always he his little boy, no matter how mad, he would still want to hear from him and see him. Kevin saved him, and in return he saves Kevin at the end of the 'traps' scene when Harry and Marv have him hanging my the collar. The ending is earned. When Kevin is reunited with his family he peers out of his window and sees Marley and his son have reunited as well. This moment is heartwarming and sincere. It sticks with you and leaves you feeling good about the ending.
The Pigeon Lady:
This character makes zero sense. Let's start with her back story. Her significant other broke her heart, and now she is shutting out the world. Fine, but why are you homeless? This caused you to not want to work either? If that's the case, then she has a severe mental disorder. If you are so afraid of making relationships and being hurt you can't even get a job, something is off. Second of all, Kevin has no reason to fear her. I understand his brother telling him a story about Marley being a murder, kids believe their older siblings (especially at 8 years old). Kevin sees her in the park and thinks "eww, she's gross. A dirty hobo with pigeons". Wouldn't he just ignore her? Third of all, she doesn't grow as a character. How does she develop? All she reveals is her heart was broken, and now she's homeless. This does nothing to advance the plot. How does Kevin learning not to judge a book by it's cover help him grow or overcome his fears? When she saves him from the two bad guys. Again, this is forced. They just so happen to run into each other? It's a HUGE CITY. Old Man Marley was Kevin's neighbor. He probably saw the two guys chasing him into that house and came outside to see if Kevin was alright. Finally, the ending. So Kevin gives this HOMELESS lady a turtle dove ornament? His family is loaded. Why not offer her a place to stay? Try and find her a job? Get her Mental Health treatment? This resolves nothing. She learns to trust kids? Okay? That doesn't help her learn to trust adults, or love again. Even if it helped her find faith in humanity again, that's a weak plot point. It's not earned, and it feels pointless. Home Alone 2 would work just as well without her at all.
Mr. Duncan from Duncan's Toy Chest was a better fit for this character. He helps Kevin realize he's a spoiled little brat and there are kids in need at Christmas who have nothing. He's donating all the money from Christmas eve to the Children's Hospital. This is the advice that makes Kevin decide to stop Harry and Marv. "You can't mess with kids on Christmas". There is no need for the Pigeon Lady. Even the ending when Mr. Duncan reads the note Kevin left after he broke the window was heartfelt.
Thoughts?