AdFreakMacaulay Culkin Is Home Alone Again at Age 38 in Google’s Update to the Holiday ClassicAnd you might want to ask your Google Home about itBy David Griner|December 19, 2018 Having the house to yourself as a kid? Fun but scary. As an adult? A voice-assisted dream come true.GoogleShareBy David Griner|December 19, 2018 ShareOh no, someone left Kevin McCallister home alone once again! But wait, that’s not all too alarming, given that actor Macaulay Culkin is now 38 years old.In Google’s homage to and update of 1990’s Home Alone, Culkin is still enjoying his solo time—but now without the lingering dread of being accidentally ditched by parents. He’s also no longer traumatized by aftershave, though jumping on the bed is still fun (except for the resulting laundry and back pain).“Home Alone Again With Google Voice,” created with Richmond-based agency Arts and Letters Creative Co., is sure to be a hit with fans of the original, thanks to its loving and detailed callbacks to the film and its sequel, which are delightfully integrated with Google Assistant devices like the Home Mini, Home Hub and Pixel smartphone. In addition to the ad’s visual references, there are also some fun Easter eggs related to the ad that have been dropped into Google Assistant devices. So if you own one, trying hitting it with one of these questions or comments:• Hey Google, how much do I owe you? • Hey Google, did I forget something? • Hey Google, the Wet Bandits are here. • Hey Google, it’s me Snakes. I got the stuff. • Hey Google, I’m the man of the house.As you can imagine, the answer to the first one involves keeping the change, ya filthy animal. (Sadly, none of these gets your Google Home to say, “Get down on your knees and tell me you love me,” but maybe we can hope for an ad sequel that reboots the film sequel.)The Google video is obviously reminiscent of the 2012 Honda CR-V Super Bowl ad from RPA that saw Matthew Broderick revisiting his Ferris Bueller antics, though Broderick was playing himself as a middle-age actor, while Culkin is still in character.But there’s certainly still more room for this retro reboot approach to ads. Maybe next year, Bruce Willis climbs back into the ducts for a Die Hard ad for WeWork?CREDITS:Client: Google Client Team Director of Brand Growth, Google Assistant: Flavia Simon Product Marketing Manager, Google Assistant: Therese Wong Associate Product Marketing Manager, Google Assistant: Stefanie Pinsley Social Marketing Manager, Google Social Lab: Jessica BreslinArts & Letters Creative Co. Founder / Executive Creative Director: Charles Hodges Director of Strategy: Andy Grayson Director of Production: Letitia Jacobs Managing Director: Rich Weinstein Creative: NJ Placentra Creative: Chris Stephens Creative: Joey Ianno Creative: Jonathan Hirsch Business Director: Allison Oxenreiter Business Manager: Danielle Young Producer: Christina Cairo Assistant Producer: Mel Calabro Business Affairs: Karen Murillo, Lenora CushingProduction Co: Arts & Sciences Director: Mike Warzin DP: Sean Porter Managing Partner, Ep: Marc Marrie Partner, Managing Director: Mal Ward Head of Production: Christa Skotland Line Producer: Alex Waite Production Designer: Clement Price-Thomas Still Photography Photographer: Adam Hoff Digital Tech: Jason Robinette Producer: Maria Bianco, Bianco Artists BTS Producer: Cake Films BTS Camera Operator: Selene RichholtShot in New YorkEditorial Company: Arcade Edit Editor: Jeff Ferruzzo Editor: Ali Mao Asst. Editor: Jeff Lopus Executive Producer: Sila Soyer Producer: Fanny CruzVFX Production: The Mill Executive Producer: Christina Thompson Producer: Lauren Orban Production Coordinator: Roberto Herrera, Kevin LiuVFX Creative: The Mill Chief Creative Officer: Angus Kneale Shoot Supervisor: Kyle Cody 2-D Lead Artist: Kyle Cody 2-D Artists: Andrew Emmerson, Heather Kennedy Eck, Molly Intersimone, Dhruv Shankar, Terner Thompson Matte Painting: Roger KupelianColor: CO3 NY Colorist: Tom Poole Color Producer: Alex Lubrano Color Assist: Jenny MontgomeryAudio Mix: Heard City Audio Mixer: Elizabeth McClanahan Producer: Andi Lewis EP: Sasha Awn Managing Director: Gloria Pitagorsky Tracks: “White Christmas”-The Drifters /”Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” -Brenda Lee/ “Home Alone Original Score” -John WilliamsMotion Design – UI: Mixtape Club Executive Producer: John Holt UI Animation Lead: Avi JacobsTalent: Macaulay Culkin Adweek Adweek