How I made Home Alone my own
Home Sweet Home Alone star Archie Yates explains how he created his own spin on Kevin Mccallister
HE’S SWEETER
Although he’s eventually happy to see them, Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin spends much of the original film delighted that his family are gone; the new guy is less of a loner. “Max is more sweet and forgiving,” Yates explains. “Kevin is more spiteful because he’s frustrated with his family, [while] Max is much more loving and open to friendship.”
HE’S TOUGHER
Kevin is somewhat of a scaredy cat, initially — just looking at old man Marley (Roberts
Blossom) sees him screaming and running away. Archie wanted Max to have a bit of a thicker skin. “He doesn’t really show that he’s scared, even when he is,” Archie explains. “He doesn’t show fear, he simply shows fury. Obviously he’s alarmed by what’s going on, but he’s very quick and smart, and knows what to do in the situation.”
HE’S ARMED
The original films were famous for traps of tar, feathers, paint cans, and that nail on the stairs. While Max has some pranks up his sleeve — “I’m talking swinging things off banisters, dropping things from balconies,” Yates teases — he also has more modern advantages. “He has his own personal, portable weapons,” he says, “and the house has Alexa-like AI software that can take care of alarms and locks and stuff.” Handy!
HE DOESN’T SCREAM
It’s impossible to think of Home Alone without picturing Kevin mid-yelp, eyes wide and hands on face. Archie is aware of the iconography, but says the new film is selective in its nods to the original. “The iconic face doesn’t really happen,” he says. “But I do say the, ‘Thirsty for more?’ line.” Three decades since the original, so are we.
SOPHIE BUTCHER
HOME SWEET HOME ALONE IS ON DISNEY+ FROM 12 NOVEMBER