10. Frank Shirley: Christmas Vacation
Who: Frank Shirley is boss to Clark Griswold in the Film Christmas Vacation.
Why: An easy pick for sure. Who at some point in their working career hasn't had a boss like Frank Shirley. He's an egotistical money grubbing, uppity jerk who doesn't even remembers Clark's last name let alone his first. He cares little if not any about his employees, and shows it by taking away their Christmas bonuses to save money (which doesn't sit well with Clark and his plans for an in-ground pool). For all the aggravation he causes his employees, from forgetting their names to taking away their money, he has more than earned his place in the hall of fame of holiday stinkers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuQ2L2taJ3A
Redemption?: Yet all was not lost for Mr. Shirley. Thanks to the intervention on Clark's behalf by cousin Eddie, "who's heart is bigger than his brain", Mr. Shirley is made to see the errors of his greedy ways. Clark eventually receives his bonus (plus a little extra) and Christmas cheer is restored once again to the Griswold house. It happens just in time to before the ball of flame triggered by the noxious sewer waste, sends a flaming plastic Santa careening through the air, causing the Griswold clan and the riot squad to sing the national anthem to the Christmas star..............its not your usual Christmas movie
9. Mr. Hector: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Who: Mr. Hector is concierge at the Plaza Hotel New York City where Kevin McCallister takes up illegal residence in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Why: Looking back, I guess I was a bit hard on Mr. Hector. He was only trying to do his job and stop a crime (credit fraud) from being committed in his hotel. Think how bad would it be for him if his boss found out the hotel been defrauded by a adolescent with a Talkboy. However any chance of empathy on behalf of Mr. Hectors plight was lost in casting. Anytime you put Tim Curry in a role and he's the antagonist you lose all sense of identification or human empathy. I ask, how can you identify with absolute evil? How can you identify with cold unrestrained theatrical malice in its purest form? You can't. The best you can do is hold your ground, set some traps and hope that you never have to stare at the bone-chilling blood curdling sight of a smiling Tim Curry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py1DILray2Y
Redemption?: Like Uncle Frank, Curry's Mr. Hector doesn't figure all that prominently into the main story arc of
Home Alone 2, since he serves only as an easily outwitted comic foil for Kevin. The one thing you should remember about Mr. Hector is that he was not particularly evil variety but of a more pitiful brown noser. The fact that he's Tim Curry and therefore not to be trusted didn't help but you must remember that he was still a man just trying to do his job, unlike a certain psychiatrist who works at Macy's Department Store.