Home Alone: A Classic Film Review

Before A Real Pain, Succession, and even Father of the Bride, a young Kieran Culkin was cast in his very first role in the blockbuster Home Alone. He was so young, in fact, that he says he didn’t even understand what was going on in the beloved caper.

“I had no idea what that movie was about when I saw it, and I was in it,” the actor said in an interview published Tuesday in the Los Angeles Times. “I was at the premiere, and I was dying laughing. It was the funniest thing I had ever seen. I had no idea what the movie was about.”

When the movie was released in November 1990, Culkin had just turned eight so he’s to be forgiven. Eight is the same age as the movie’s protagonist, Kevin McCallister (portrayed by Kieran’s older brother Macaulay Culkin), whose parents accidentally leave him behind when they go on a trip for the holidays. Kevin later discovers that thieves Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) have set their sights on his house, and he hilariously defends it by setting off traps all over the gorgeous abode.

Kieran’s small but memorable role was that of Fuller, one of Kevin’s younger cousins who has a habit of wetting the bed. Kevin complains about being forced to bunk with him because of this, and it’s part of what drives him to argue with his mother (Catherine O’Hara). Banished to the attic, he gets left behind.

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None of this was knowledge that the younger Culkin needed to play his part.

“‘Drink this Coke, wear the glasses, say the thing that you memorized, look cute and go home,'” Culkin said he was told.

The actor who portrayed Kevin’s pain-in-the-butt older brother, Buzz, apparently acted the part off-screen too.

“Devin Ratray, the guy who plays Buzz, lied to me and told me the movie was all about him,” Culkin said. “And I believed him. And then when I saw it, the movie’s cracking me up, and I go, ‘Mac was on set all the time. That makes sense the movie would be about him.'”

More than three decades later, Culkin is generating Oscar buzz for his turn in A Real Pain, in which he and Jesse Eisenberg play Jewish cousins on a Holocaust memorial tour through Poland.

FAQs Section

1. How old was Kieran Culkin when he starred in Home Alone?

Kieran Culkin had just turned eight when he starred in Home Alone.

2. What role did Kieran Culkin play in Home Alone?

Kieran Culkin played the role of Fuller, one of Kevin’s younger cousins in Home Alone.

3. Who portrayed Kevin in Home Alone?

Kevin McCallister was portrayed by Kieran’s older brother, Macaulay Culkin.

4. What did Kieran Culkin say about his experience filming Home Alone?

Kieran Culkin mentioned that he had no idea what the movie was about when he first saw it, even though he was in it.

5. Which actors played the roles of the thieves in Home Alone?

Marv was portrayed by Daniel Stern and Harry was portrayed by Joe Pesci in Home Alone.

6. What is Kieran Culkin’s latest project generating Oscar buzz?

Kieran Culkin’s latest project generating Oscar buzz is A Real Pain, where he plays a Jewish cousin on a Holocaust memorial tour through Poland.

7. Who played the role of Kevin’s older brother, Buzz, in Home Alone?

Devin Ratray played the role of Kevin’s older brother, Buzz, in Home Alone.

8. What was Kieran Culkin’s reaction when he first saw Home Alone?

Kieran Culkin mentioned that he was laughing and found the movie to be the funniest thing he had ever seen when he first watched Home Alone.

9. What did Kieran Culkin’s older brother tell him about the movie Home Alone?

Kieran Culkin’s older brother, Macaulay Culkin, was on set all the time, leading Kieran to believe that the movie was all about him.

10. How did Kieran Culkin prepare for his role in Home Alone?

Kieran Culkin mentioned that he was given simple instructions to follow, such as drinking Coke, wearing glasses, saying memorized lines, looking cute, and going home.