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Well Christmas time is soon upon us. The holiday season is here. Lights are strewn from housetops, trees adorned brightly and presents to be had. But somewhere…in a suburb outside of Chicago we all have to wonder if a very large family is to embark on a trip to France and will be forgetting one thing. One mischievous young lad, who although he may have pissed off the family by spilling beverages and ruining the large pizza dinner, will soon be missed. This question, this worry is always in the minds of enlightened America at Christmas time. Ever since 1990, we’ve had to wonder how many people have left for Europe and forgotten a love one, leaving him to fend for his life against two dimwitted criminals, perhaps under the moniker ‘Wet Bandits.’ In 1992 we started to consider the family perhaps mixing up their flights, resulting in the youngster being lost in New York. Why was the public enlightened so? Because of the emergence of two soon to be Christmas classics, Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

In all seriousness though nothing says Christmas like Home Alone and Home Alone 2 (I could’ve said the Home Alone series had it not been for the horrible Home Alone 3). And nothing says Home Alone like Uncle Frank. So therefore, if nothing says Home Alone like Uncle Frank, and nothing says Christmas like Home Alone, Uncle Frank is Christmas.

So who is this Uncle Frank, said to be many as the "Santa Claus for the 21st Century." Well for starters we have to look back on the movie itself. Although an insignificant character overall, Frank stands out. The movie is based on the theme that Kevin McAllister wishes his family would disappear, they leave without him and then he discovers how much he misses them. Throw in an old man with a shovel, the greatest tarantula scene of all time and Buzz’s girlfriend woof, and you have a modern comedy classic. So where does Frank come into all this?

Frank is a symbol of why Kevin hates his family at the beginning. The comedy that he has in his character is undeniably number 1, although Buzz puts up a good effort. I mean the whole premise of the movie is based on Kevin’s family not getting along with him, and Uncle Frank encompasses this perfectly. This is his role in the overall scheme of things, but not what makes him the best. Some examples of Frank’s greatness.

1) Well for starters he is the father of Fuller, who wets the bed. Being the father of a bed wetter is a major plus in earning the prestigious honor of being on this section (see Gary Busey).

2) He is bald. I don’t know…it just adds to the character somehow.

3) He wears great sweaters. Nothing on Bill Cosby but some noteworthy attire.

4) The frugal uncle. The pizza guy comes and the bill is $122.50. Frank dodges the bill. "Eh it’s my brother’s house, he’ll take care of it," and walks off. Nothing says Christmas like not offering to cover an exorbitant pizza bill.

5) "Look what you did you little jerk!" This line says it all. Frank telling it like it is when Kevin spills soda all over and makes a huge mess. He is a man of power

6) A wise man:

Uncle Frank - "There is no way on earth we’re going to make this plane. It leaves in forty-five minutes,"
Peter - "Think positive, Frank,"
Uncle Frank - "You be positive. I’ll be realistic!"

7) "If Uncle Frank says no, it must be bad." Frank is the lenient uncle, the one the kids love but parents have doubt in his parenting skills.

8) Frank is truly an emotional person, well adapted to consoling Kevin’s mother after she realizes she forgot her son. "If it makes you fell any better," says Frank, "I forgot my reading glasses."

All in all, Uncle Frank is the man and I’m through writing about him. Merry Christmas you little jerks!

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