February 06, 2026

WIFF’S WEEKEND WATCH LIST — 2/6

Remembering Catherine O’Hara.

iF you WANT her iconic performance

home alone

Vincent Georgie: As Kate McCallister, O’Hara was instantly memorable in a role that demanded that she be frequently funny in large ensemble scenes, two-handers, or just talking into a pay phone. Her ease with scripted comedy as well as improvised work is on full display. She also had some heavy lifting, making the entire premise of the film believable, and making us still love her character along the way. She made what was possibly the “worst mother on earth” role into one of grace and humour. Her scenes with John Candy go right to my heart.

Synopsis: When bratty 8-year-old Kevin McCallister acts out the night before a family trip to Paris, his mother makes him sleep in the attic. After the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin, he awakens to an empty house and assumes his wish to have no family has come true. But his excitement sours when he realizes that two con men plan to rob the McCallister residence, and that he alone must protect the family home.

Available on Apple TV, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.

if you WANT her on full display

for your consideration

Vincent Georgie: As the aptly named Marilyn Hack, O’Hara carries the whole film. It’s a very funny, showboat lead performance that earned her wide acclaim, including the Best Actress prize from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

Synopsis: The possibility of Oscar gold holds the cast and crew of an independent film in its grip after the performance of its virtually unknown, veteran star (Catherine O’Hara) generates awards buzz. Though the movie in question, “Home for Purim,” is impossibly awful, the rumours of future nominations snowball and attract the attention of a distributor who wants to make a few “minor” changes.

Available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

if you want her stealing the show

bettlejuice

Vincent Georgie: While the careers of Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, and Winona Ryder were blowing up just as this film was released, leave it to the endless game-for-anything energy of O’Hara to steal the whole show. That dinner party scene is classic for a reason.

Synopsis: After Barbara and Adam Maitland die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes and their teen daughter, Lydia (Winona Ryder), buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice, a rambunctious spirit whose help quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia.

Available on Apple TV, YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

DOUBLE FEATURE

an iconic duo

Vincent Georgie: Profoundly at home in this kind of improvisational comedy troupe environment, O’Hara shines bright with her most frequent co-star of her career: her friend Eugene Levy.

best in show

The tension is palpable, the excitement is mounting and the heady scent of competition is in the air as hundreds of eager contestants from across America prepare to take part in what is undoubtedly one of the greatest events of their lives — the Mayflower Dog Show. The canine contestants and their owners are as wondrously diverse as the great country that has bred them.

Available on Apple TV, Crave, Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

a mighty wind

In this hilarious backstage mockumentary, three eclectic, never-quite-famous folk bands come together for the first time in decades following the death of their manager to put on a reunion concert in his honour, at the request of his son (Bob Balaban).