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Marley's Character Is A Human Plothole Machine

posted 10 years ago by FattyMcButterpants
28 replies | jump to latest

His existence in this movie, while needed to save Kevin in the end, really creates a lot of issues in this movie:

1) He's the only guy in the neighborhood who isnt away for Christmas, but is never mentioned by the Wet Bandits as being home. They never acknowledge his existence, they freely roam around the neighborhood robbing at will, never once worrying about him being home the whole time.

2) He's literally the McAllister's next door neighbor, and the only guy home for Christmas, and yet they never once bother to call him about Kevin. Instead, they keep calling the neighbor across the street, who they knew was going to Florida.

3) Despite regularly salting sidewalks at night, and just generally being around outside, Marley never notices the Wet Bandits robbing houses one after another.

4) Despite seeing Kevin all over town by himself, and clearly seeing nobody else is home next door, Marley never does anything about Kevin being home alone.

5) Even when Marley finally sees the Wet Bandits chasing Kevin, and eventually follows them across the street, and narrowly saves Kevins life by attacking the Wet Bandits, Marley just takes Kevin home and leaves him alone for yet another night! WTF!? Did he just drop the kid at the door and take off?

I understand why a character like Marley is in the movie, but man, his existence really does strain the credibility of the story. Its almost impossible for him to exist on that street and not have intervened at some point earlier in the movie.

[–] byson5186 10 years ago

Yeah, that's a good point. I have thought of some of that, I mean he is seen frequently in scenes the burglars aren't in, besides that one scene. He seems to be the only other neighbor that hasn't left. Also, how the McAllister's including Buzz seemed afraid of him. We can wonder if Buzz really believed that story, I'm surprised if he was their next door neighbor that Kevin would not have run into him earlier or heard that fictional story until his family leaves. I'd think the parents would have gotten to know him, and know he wasn't a total creep.

[–] robk86 10 years ago

Especially since he revealed that he lived at that address long before the McAllisters moved there. Unless his experience with his son made him extremely bitter toward everyone else, there's no reason why the McAllisters and Marley didn't have a cordial enough of a relationship to answer the questions the OP addressed. Such bitterness and isolation would only validate or, at the very least, raise further suspicion to the rumors that Buzz and others spread about him.

"Simpsons did it! Simpsons did it!"

[–] Klein_Returns 10 years ago

I hadn't thought about this before.

[–] stevenackerman69 9 years ago

A lot of people hadn't thought about the Marley character in this way before, or in the way I mentioned it on here. Maybe because none of the fans of this film saw or read Mockingbird?

[–] buddyboy28 10 years ago

Great points.

My life fades... the vision dims... all that remains are memories

[–] jsn_hylnd 10 years ago

I winder if Harry arrived at Marley's home disguised as a cop like he did the other homes? Probably did but Marley wasn't leaving so he dropped it.

[–] fxdiamond 10 years ago

as someone pointed out i think he lived rather like a recluse in a lot ways and probably didn't talk too much to anyone there, so hence why kevin's family never considered calling him. he was a real nice old man, however his demeanor was his downfall to how he came across i.e. (the store scene). that was not the best approach to a young kid standing next to you being served lol.

he probably had a few close friends though around that knew the real him.
but yes he seemed rather observant (aren't most old guys lol) so if nothing else the biggest plot hole was the fact he "seemed" completely unaware to the wet bandits presence. even if he had been quietly stalking them watching their moves he would have definitly called the cops pretty quick. that did not make much sense i admit.

unless he wasn't home much of a day? then maybe it was a little plausible in some ways.

[–] Buzz_McCallister 10 years ago

These are all excellent observations, FattyMcButterpants!

11... 92... 12...

[–] starry42 10 years ago

In the novelization, Harry mentions Marley as someone who wasn't leaving for the holiday, but he seemed too odd for them to even try to rob.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] svalinanikola 9 years ago

1) He's the only guy in the neighborhood who isnt away for Christmas, but is never mentioned by the Wet Bandits as being home. They never acknowledge his existence, they freely roam around the neighborhood robbing at will, never once worrying about him being home the whole time.

Why do they need to aknowledge his existence? What would that add to the movie?

The reason they're robbing those other houses freely is because there are no people there. Why should they care if someone is in another house? As long as they get what they want and go out sneakily it's all good.

That's like if someone in real life decides to rob a house and worries if there's someone still in another house in the neighbourhood. There would be no robberies done then, let alone at day and I heard robberies are more common then than at night.

2) He's literally the McAllister's next door neighbor, and the only guy home for Christmas, and yet they never once bother to call him about Kevin. Instead, they keep calling the neighbor across the street, who they knew was going to Florida.

I think it was established Marley doesn't talk much to other people and they all see him as some weirdo, sure they could've called him but again, maybe they didn't want to bother him because they don't think highly of him.

Think of it like them calling Uncle Frank to check on Kevin, I think that explains it well.

3) Despite regularly salting sidewalks at night, and just generally being around outside, Marley never notices the Wet Bandits robbing houses one after another.

Just because he's seen doing that it doesn't mean he does it all the time, he's not omnipresent. Besides, the wet bandits may not be the most competent thieves but even they are not that stupid to just let themselves be seen by someone. They went through all that trouble to be sure nobody is in their homes (Harry disquising himself as the police officer etc.) so I think they'll keep an eye on any person walking around before deciding to break into some home.

4) Despite seeing Kevin all over town by himself, and clearly seeing nobody else is home next door, Marley never does anything about Kevin being home alone.

If you saw a kid walking by himself would you automatically assume he's in the house all by himself? Plus, in Marley's eyes, Kevin didn't look like he was left alone in the house and was terrified because of that, he acted normal. Well, apart from screaming every time he saw him but Marley knew that was because of the stories that surround him.

5) Even when Marley finally sees the Wet Bandits chasing Kevin, and eventually follows them across the street, and narrowly saves Kevins life by attacking the Wet Bandits, Marley just takes Kevin home and leaves him alone for yet another night! WTF!? Did he just drop the kid at the door and take off?

OK, this is the only thing listed that is weird, but maybe he talked with Kevin about that and maybe it was Kevin's decision, the kid conquered his fears and learn to take care of himself etc.

[–] TheLordofTheHarvest 9 years ago

The whole Marley subplot was added onto the film by Columbus. Originally it was just the comedy aspect the whole time and that was it but Columbus felt it needed more sentimental scenes and it got added in. Which was for the better because Roberts Blossom did an excellent job.

As for the plot holes that can be attributed to the change being so late and just lazy script writing in general. They either had no time to acknowledge him in the movie or didn't care.

But really though I think Marv going around prob would have done the trick with Marley. He just needed to talk to him and he would have told him he wasn't going nowhere, that would have been it. Marv and Harry wanted the empty houses not all of them. Plus he was an imposing dude I'm sure no one wanted anything to do with him. He seems like a very private guy maybe the dad never talked to him lol.

[–] amazon-16-326401 9 years ago

I always thought of the Marley character as very Boo Radleyian in nature. I always assumed the character was added as a nod to Boo.

tk

[–] stevenackerman69 9 years ago

That's exactly what I thought. Just like Boo Radley, there are rumors about him that he's nuts, but when we meet him, we see he isn't really a bad person. He might have issues, but they aren't homicidal.

[–] FattyMcButterpants 9 years ago

Why do they need to aknowledge his existence? What would that add to the movie?

Because they are freely roaming around his neighborhood robbing houses, and his existence would effect their ability to rob freely every day that week. How can they not acknowledge this? The fact that he is the only person in the neighborhood at home is a rather big deal to them and their plans. He could see them and call the cops.

I think it was established Marley doesn't talk much to other people and they all see him as some weirdo, sure they could've called him but again, maybe they didn't want to bother him because they don't think highly of him.

Their 8 year old kid is Home Alone, they are in another country and can't get to him, and you think they dont want to "bother" the only guy in the neighborhood who is actually home and could go check on Kevin? Sounds reasonable.

ust because he's seen doing that it doesn't mean he does it all the time, he's not omnipresent. Besides, the wet bandits may not be the most competent thieves but even they are not that stupid to just let themselves be seen by someone. They went through all that trouble to be sure nobody is in their homes (Harry disquising himself as the police officer etc.) so I think they'll keep an eye on any person walking around before deciding to break into some home.

I can't even take this seriously. He's outside every night salting the sidewalks. They are robbing houses every night. They are even blatantly breaking into houses next door and across the street from him, during the daytime! He would have seen them.

If you saw a kid walking by himself would you automatically assume he's in the house all by himself? Plus, in Marley's eyes, Kevin didn't look like he was left alone in the house and was terrified because of that, he acted normal. Well, apart from screaming every time he saw him but Marley knew that was because of the stories that surround him.

If I lived next door to that kid and havent seen his family all week, only see him out alone, and even as far as a grocery store, yeah, I would wonder.

[–] svalinanikola 8 years ago

Because they are freely roaming around his neighborhood robbing houses, and his existence would effect their ability to rob freely every day that week. How can they not acknowledge this? The fact that he is the only person in the neighborhood at home is a rather big deal to them and their plans. He could see them and call the cops.

Well, geez, I guess that explains the lack of robberies here in the real world. There's too many people on Earth so burglars just don't bother.

I think many real life burglars would love to have the opportunity The Wet Bandits have, only one person.

Their 8 year old kid is Home Alone, they are in another country and can't get to him, and you think they dont want to "bother" the only guy in the neighborhood who is actually home and could go check on Kevin? Sounds reasonable.

They don't have his phone number? They wanted to call the people they actually talk with, hang out with etc. first, but since they were all on holidays they called the police and not the person they don't hang out with and don't know much about.

I can't even take this seriously. He's outside every night salting the sidewalks. They are robbing houses every night. They are even blatantly breaking into houses next door and across the street from him, during the daytime! He would have seen them.

A lot of people are outside in real world, a lot of people. A lot of them are outside even at night. There's always a lot of cars driving around.

That doesn't stop burglars from doing what they do.

Did you knew that many real life burglaries happen during the day?

Again, that guy isn't some supernatural being that can see what's happening in every house.

When you walk around the city do you suddenly get the ability that tells you what anyone does at any given moment? What someone does inside of a house etc.? I sure don't. You should become a superhero.

If I lived next door to that kid and havent seen his family all week, only see him out alone, and even as far as a grocery store, yeah, I would wonder.

Do you often jump to conclusions like this?

"Oh gee, I didn't see the neighbour's wife for some time, maybe he killed her?"

[–] Hiphophippie23 9 years ago

Great points OP, #5 really made me laugh. I never thought of that one, seriously WTF?

[–] NobodymournstheWicked 9 years ago

Let's see how I can take care of his issues with him

1) He's the only guy in the neighborhood who isnt away for Christmas, but is never mentioned by the Wet Bandits as being home. They never acknowledge his existence, they freely roam around the neighborhood robbing at will, never once worrying about him being home the whole time.

Okay what s wrong with that about being the only one, and plus do we know of any reason for him to travel like visit out of state relatives. I mean why should the Wet Bandits mention him or be scared of him, expect for to save Kenny they are never seen together except for in the Murphy's home after their whole experience in the house.

2) He's literally the McAllister's next door neighbor, and the only guy home for Christmas, and yet they never once bother to call him about Kevin. Instead, they keep calling the neighbor across the street, who they knew was going to Florida.

Okay part of the issue is repeated again do we even know if he has a house, and next we don't even know if he is on friendly terms with Peter and Kate, and plus we don't even know if they have a contact number for him, like a home phone # since this is pre the days before cell phones. So we assume that they aren't on good terms.

3) Despite regularly salting sidewalks at night, and just generally being around outside, Marley never notices the Wet Bandits robbing houses one after another.

I am sure he has his own life to live, and can't be a neighborhood police man or watcher 24/7. And plus from what I have seen he shovels the salt at night, and the Wet Bandits rob homes in the daytime.

4) Despite seeing Kevin all over town by himself, and clearly seeing nobody else is home next door, Marley never does anything about Kevin being home alone.

What much can he do about it? He could call the police, but I would doubt that they would believe that Kevin is home alone. Remember when Kate called the Police and the woman said they would sent a policemen to check on their son, the policeman was knocking loud on the door, and Kevin was afford that there was a bad person at the door, and not a policeman that he could have gotten help from.

5) Even when Marley finally sees the Wet Bandits chasing Kevin, and eventually follows them across the street, and narrowly saves Kevins life by attacking the Wet Bandits, Marley just takes Kevin home and leaves him alone for yet another night! WTF!? Did he just drop the kid at the door and take off?

He does see what happens but not at a distance that we see him, so he knows he is in trouble with two burglars after him. And plus what is wrong with taking Kevin back to his own home, once the burglars are caught, knocked to the floor and soon to be arrested. So how can Kevin not be anymore safer at home alone by himself, since he has been home alone by himself anyways. And plus I assume that is what he did, since I don't think Marley has any keys to their hime, and Kevin clearly has keys, and is just pretty smart to have the doors locked anyways.

[–] FattyMcButterpants 9 years ago

Have you ever actually even watched this movie? You don't know if Marley has a house? Seriously?

[–] stevenackerman69 9 years ago

Here's the thing about the whole Marley character. He reminds me of Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird. He is this recluse who the kids spread rumors about him being messed up. When we finally meet him, yes, he has problems, but it isn't that bad. So this whole Marley subplot is NOT original and I never believed he was a killer, even in the way he looks in certain shots.

[–] Blizzard_Beasts 8 years ago

When Marley saved Kevin at the end, maybe Kevin never told Marley that he was home alone and his parents were gone. They had a long conversation in the church and Kevin could've mentioned to Marley in the church that he was home alone and robbers are coming at 9 o clock, but Kevin didn't say it then, so why would he tell Marley at the end?

[–] NobodymournstheWicked 8 years ago

You ask a very good question when you ask

but Kevin didn't say it then, so why would he tell Marley at the end?

And I don't think that I could even come up with a single good reason why he would tell him, and maybe because he figured it was none of Marley's business.

[–] fleurfairy 8 years ago

He's also like James Earl Jones' character in The Sandlot.