Home Alone has been one of the classic Christmas films since the 90s. The film that made Macaulay Culkin a global star is an annual tradition for many families. Despite its popularity, some questions have accumulated among fans over the years, which always give rise to speculation.
So some people today are asking themselves what Papa McCallister (John Heard) does to be able to afford the house, or how the wet bandits survive the pranks of the three-cheese high. A question that can be easily answered, however, is why Kate McCallister (Catherine O’Hara) suddenly remembers Kevin on the plane.
Catherine O’Hara’s Home Alone reaction is based on a simple psychological principle
In a 2020 article, ScreenRant explained what’s behind Mrs. McCallister’s sudden memory. A principle was explained that will be familiar to many people, even if the name is not necessarily familiar. This is the so-called Tongue tip phenomenonin English Tip of the Tongue called. This is an everyday occurrence that happens frequently to most people. The phenomenon is usually associated with individual words or phrases that are known but simply cannot be remembered at the moment.
Something similar happened to Kate McCallister as the family in the film flies off on vacation full of hecticness. The evening before there was already a lot of chaos in the house, with even Kevin’s ticket accidentally ending up in the trash. We also learn that Kevin’s parents are packing his suitcase. After an argument, Kevin is banished to the attic to spend the night. The next morning the entire family overslept and almost misses the flight. In the hustle and bustle, a neighbor boy is included as the family wants to make sure everyone is there and so Kevin is simply forgotten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgMyaAK-aZw&ab_channel=AgentOrange
On the plane, Kate has a strange feeling that she talks to her husband about. After a series of questions, they finally find a reason for their discomfort: they didn’t close the garage. In this moment of calm a series of memories comes back. She didn’t pack Kevin’s suitcase and forgot to get it from the attic. This makes her realize that she has forgotten him.
With the tip of the tongue phenomenon, individual situations are eliminated, especially in moments of pressure and hectic pace. Only when you calm down and relax again, the information comes back. Many people will be familiar with similar situations when they are rushing to leave the house and halfway through they remember that they have forgotten something. This should make it clear why Mrs. McCallister only remembers her son when it is already too late.