This film has been labeled a Russian "Home Alone", and on one level provides similar entertainment, but the cultural subtext is a very rich one. Its intent is far more serious social commentary than in a typical American comedy -- something that a non-Russian-speaking audience may have difficulty catching. "Vovochka" - the quintessential "Dennis-the-Menace" type, fantasizes about being praised for his heroism by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who shares his name (Vovochka, being a nickname for Vladimir) as does Vladimir Lenin. Unfortunately, his fate (or "karma", as the poet-alcoholic-on-the-dissident fringes explains to him) is to be constantly a free spirit and an irritant to the authorities. This adult character bears the name "Alexander Sergeevich," the name of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, whom he quotes constantly and in ironic ways. He is played by Yuri Shevchuk, a very popular contemporary rock musician from the band DDT. Shevchuk is a Bob Dylan type in contemporary Russian culture. There are lots of jokes about the erasure of truth despite the efforts of contemporary journalists, and introduces the very contemporary conflict between the young hero's modest, but very positive family and the wealthy "New Russian" neighbors, the former-KGB-thug body guards, and the politicking local authorities. I was very glad that I ignored the negative ratings I had read and watched it anyway.
