A LAWYER has gone viral on social media with a tongue-in-cheek assessment of the various crimes committed in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York.
The hit sequel centres on the exploits of a young Irish American – Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin McAllister – who finds himself all alone in New York City and pursued by old adversaries the ‘Stick Bandits’, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), from the first film.
Released back in 1992 and featuring a cameo appearance from none other than Donald Trump, Home Alone 2 may not have sat well with critics but it has emerged as a firm festive favourite thanks to some memorable comedic set-pieces and slapstick gags.
That didn’t stop popular Twitter user The Secret Barrister from offering up an amusing analysis of the film based on current English and Welsh law.
*** HOME ALONE 2 LIVE-TWEET: THE RULES***
This lecture explores the Christmas classic 'Home Alone 2' through the lens of English and Welsh law.
Contributions and observations are welcome, but I'm perfectly prepared to tweet the entire film to a wall of embarrassed silence.— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) December 22, 2018
Live tweeting during the film’s broadcast on terrestrial TV over the weekend, the legal eagle behind The Secret Barrister offered up a pretty damning assessment of Kevin’s behaviour.
To his way of thinking Kev would be looking at four years in a young offenders’ institution for his antics, while Harry and Marv would most likely face life in prison.
Kevin’s parents, meanwhile, would have been hit with an eight-month stint behind bars for child neglect given this is the second time they have left Kevin home alone.
And they’ve left Kevin on the wrong plane.
Section 1(1) Children and Young Persons Act 1933 - child abandonment/neglect. Max sentence 10 years. Second offence in a year. Serious aggravating feature.
Not mitigated I’m afraid by the awesome 90s comedy faint by Negligent Mom.— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) December 22, 2018
According to The Secret Barrister, the wrongdoing begins early on – the moment Kevin records his Uncle Frank in the shower, to be precise. The crime? Voyeurism.
Yet that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
The Sticky Bandits, meanwhile, would face up to 10 years in prison for attempting to rob a toy shop, as they do in the film – or 6.66 years if they plead guilty.
They’re in the Plaza! Offences galore!
TREASON!
SEXUAL ASSAULT!
FRAUD!
CORRUPTION!
Yup, it’s the Donald Trump cameo. God bless his chubby little pervert toes.— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) December 22, 2018
An amusing and informative take on Home Alone 2, it’s probably worth remembering the film is set in New York, so UK law wouldn’t apply.
THE BANDITS ARE CHASING KEVIN!
This is an attempt to abduct a child, contrary to s1 Criminal Attempts Act 1981.
In this light, I’d say that his actions in spilling beads over the pavement to cause them to slip amount to reasonable, if unorthodox, self defence.— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) December 22, 2018
THE BANDITS ARE CHASING KEVIN!
This is an attempt to abduct a child, contrary to s1 Criminal Attempts Act 1981.
In this light, I’d say that his actions in spilling beads over the pavement to cause them to slip amount to reasonable, if unorthodox, self defence.— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) December 22, 2018
Oh, and it is a work of fiction and not something that is supposed to represent anything approaching real life.
