Home Sweet Home Alone 2021

Here’s a rephrased version of the section:

As the McKenzie family struggles to come to terms with their financial woes - Jeff’s job loss and Pam’s salary unable to keep up with mortgage payments - they’re forced to conceal their predicament from their children, Abby and Chris. The situation only worsens when Jeff’s well-meaning but annoying brother Hunter (accompanied by his wife Mei and son Ollie) decides to crash in for an extended Christmas visit.

Meanwhile, a chance encounter at the open house between Max Mercer and Jeff McKenzie leads to an unexpected revelation: a box of antique dolls, including one with an unusually deformed upside-down face. Carol, Max’s mother, enlightens Jeff about the rarity and value of such unusual collectibles, setting off a chain reaction of events.

As the Mercer family prepares to depart for Tokyo, Japan, Carol beats the rest of her clan to their destination, leaving Max behind in the garage-parked car, where he falls asleep while watching cartoons. Unbeknownst to his family, Max is abandoned at home, mistaken for being with another member of the party.

The McKenzie’s desperation to cling to their home manifests when Jeff discovers that one of these rare dolls has gone missing - and suspects Max of pilfering it. In hot pursuit, he tracks down the Mercer household, only to find them in disarray as they rush to leave. Amidst the chaos, he overhears crucial details about the security code and the hiding place of the house key.

Back at home, Pam is privy to Jeff’s findings and they agree to retrieve the doll under the cover of night. Meanwhile, Max, now aware that his family has left without him, initially revels in his newfound freedom before growing bored and homesick. As Jeff and Pam arrive at the Mercer residence, determined to reclaim their lost treasure, they inadvertently stumble into a misunderstanding.

Max, believing they’re conspiring to kidnap someone - specifically “that ugly little boy” he’s overheard them discussing - attempts to scare them away by alerting the authorities. Officer Buzz McCallister responds, but Pam skillfully diverts his attention. Max fears that if the officer realizes he’s alone at home, his parents may face serious consequences.

As tensions escalate and secrets unfold, the stage is set for a series of unexpected events to ensue in this holiday season gone awry.

As Carol (character) arrives on the scene, she’s met with an unexpected surprise: Max is still lingering behind, unaware of the chaos that unfolded in his wake. With a heavy heart, Carol decides to turn back around and retrace her steps, driven by a sense of responsibility and maternal instinct. The next day, the McKenzies - Jeff (actor), Pam, and their brood - take a trip to church, only to run into their realtor, who drops a bombshell: there’s a buyer interested in their property, but they must make a decision by year’s end, adding an extra layer of pressure to their already tense situation.

Meanwhile, Max unwittingly crosses paths with Chris, Jeff and Pam’s son, who takes pity on the young boy and hands over his prized water gun. The McKenzies, oblivious to Max’s presence, are busy assuming he’s just chatting it up with his grandmother - a notion that would put their minds at ease. Little do they know, however, that Max is secretly confiding in Chris about his predicament.

As the evening wears on, Jeff and Pam concoct another plan to sneak back into their house, convinced that they can outsmart Max once again. But fate has other plans, as they find themselves trespassing on their neighbor’s lawn instead - a discovery that leaves them feeling more than a little flustered. Max, ever the clever kid, overhears their antics and decides to take matters into his own hands.

He sets about booby-trapping the house, determined to make it impossible for Jeff and Pam to get anywhere near him. And so, they find themselves stumbling from one trap to the next, each one designed to thwart their efforts and keep them at bay. It’s not until they accidentally stumble upon Max’s true intentions - namely, his desire to protect a can of soda rather than the prized doll - that the truth begins to unravel.

As the dust settles, Jeff and Pam are left feeling sheepish and embarrassed by their earlier assumptions. But it’s too late to turn back now; with Christmas Eve just around the corner, they agree to let Max crash at their place until his mom returns. And so, they work together to clear up the misunderstandings and find a way to make things right.

A year later, as the Mercers and McKenzies gather for Christmas dinner, it becomes clear that Ollie is the real culprit behind the doll’s disappearance - a fact that allows the McKenzies to finally breathe a sigh of relief. As Carol returns to pick up Max, she finds herself grateful for the unexpected bond she formed with her new friends, the McKenzies.

Fast-forward to another Christmas season, and it’s clear that Jeff has landed a new job, one that brings him a sense of fulfillment and purpose. And in a heartwarming display of generosity, he decides to give Max the soda he so coveted the year prior - a small token of their shared experience and newfound friendship.