Electrocution Scene

The Physics behind The Electrocution Scene: Home Alone 2

In case you've forgotten the scene...

 

In this scene Marv is electrocuted and somehow survives, despite the amount of time he held on to the tap and the amount of electricity coursing through him. Obviously he wouldn't survive in real life, as the amount of time he had the electricity coursing through him would certainly be enough to kill him. However, in the world of Hollywood anything can happen, so of course he survived. But what it the physics behind this? How could he have possibly survived? Here's a theory....

Some Background Info....
Current (I), voltage (V), and resistance (R) are all proportionate with one another. They create a triangle in which they have given ratios and formulas can be created. This will be the key principle behind Marv surviving this severe electrocution. 

So How Did He Survive?
Marv's body has a given resistance that will remain unchanging. His body will always be able to resist a certain amount of current. So, this means that R will remain constant in the ratios and formulas, and current and voltage will be the only variables that can change.

Kevin increases the voltage by turning the knob on the power source. According to the ratios between voltage and current, as voltage increases the current will have to decrease. So this means that Kevin turning up the knob is decreasing the current going through Marv.  

This principle is likely what would allow Marv to live. High voltage accompanied with low current won't be as harmful as if it was high current. In order for an electrocution to lead to severe harm, the current must be high. So even though Marv would die from this electrocution in real life, the low current- high voltage ratio and Hollywood glam was what was able to save him.