Foil

Character Role Analysis

Kevin and The Burglars, Kevin and Buzz

Kevin and the burglars face off, but they also have a lot of differences that highlight their opposition. Kevin is a kid, they're adults; Kevin is the child of prosperous homeowners, they're criminals; Kevin gets full of the Christmas spirit, they celebrate by robbing houses and ruining other peoples Christmases.

Naturally, when they get together, things are bound to get intense: Kevin breaks out the flamethrower, the burning doorknob, and the nail on the stairs. This provokes a lot of verbal abuse and anguish on the part of the burglars. They play off each other, comically.

Also, Kevin and his older brother Buzz have a classic older brother and little brother dynamic—namely, that Buzz is a jerk to Kevin. While Kevin is inherently likeable, Buzz is a dude who tells him things like, "I wouldn't let you sleep in my room if you were growing out my ass!"

He also eats Kevin's cheese pizza (an unpardonable sin), prompting Kevin to attack him. Kevin further avenges himself against Buzz by ransacking his room and accidentally collapsing his shelves.