Written by: Kevin Berge
Harry and Marv are back to get revenge on their attempted murderer. What a great revenge tale. (Image Courtesy of: lesfilmfestival.com)
Quick Take: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is just as fun as the original, even if it does not add anything narratively to the franchise. Its stunts are bigger, though they are not quite as affecting always in their slapstick.
***This review will contain complete spoilers for all of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. If you have not seen it already and plan to do so, do not read past this point.***
A sequel is often a tricky sell for the average audience member. You are selling them because they are a fan of the original, but you need to convince them what they watch is worthy on its own merits.
This is especially difficult with a franchise like Home Alone that is built on such a well established trope. It is supposed to be all about what Kevin McAllister will do next to whoever tries to threaten him.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York has a big problem: it cannot match up to the legacy of the original. If it were the first movie in the franchise, it would likely be seen as the best in the franchise, but it feels too much like a retread emotionally.
That is not to say it is a straight cash grab. Home Alone 2 has a unique setting and set up. The antics in New York are memorable, especially Kevin's early issues in the Plaza Hotel. Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) as the conceirge is delightful. While Kevin isn't truly "home alone", the concept works.
It just lacks that original spark. In particular, the emotional beats leave much to be desired. Brenda Fricker's (My Left Foot) Pigeon Lady is such a clear replacement for Marley where once again Kevin must learn to not judge an older person by first appearance.
Kevin must learn this time to fight for others, but the movie is not exactly trying to sell you that he changed. He just made a momentary decision to help kids by stopping then tormenting Harry and Marv.
A sequel is often a tricky sell for the average audience member. You are selling them because they are a fan of the original, but you need to convince them what they watch is worthy on its own merits.
This is especially difficult with a franchise like Home Alone that is built on such a well established trope. It is supposed to be all about what Kevin McAllister will do next to whoever tries to threaten him.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York has a big problem: it cannot match up to the legacy of the original. If it were the first movie in the franchise, it would likely be seen as the best in the franchise, but it feels too much like a retread emotionally.
That is not to say it is a straight cash grab. Home Alone 2 has a unique setting and set up. The antics in New York are memorable, especially Kevin's early issues in the Plaza Hotel. Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) as the conceirge is delightful. While Kevin isn't truly "home alone", the concept works.
It just lacks that original spark. In particular, the emotional beats leave much to be desired. Brenda Fricker's (My Left Foot) Pigeon Lady is such a clear replacement for Marley where once again Kevin must learn to not judge an older person by first appearance.
Kevin must learn this time to fight for others, but the movie is not exactly trying to sell you that he changed. He just made a momentary decision to help kids by stopping then tormenting Harry and Marv.
Nothing is more terrifying than a woman that birds like. (Image Courtesy of: looper.com)
The Christmas angle this time around feels a bit played out. The story tries to be overly sweet, but no one in this film is playing the story straight except for Brenda Fricker. There's not enough to latch onto.
The heart of the movie is its comedy and returning antics. This is where the movie also suffers in comparison. While there are some wonderful moments like Harry exploding after he puts his burning head in kerosene or both trying to get up stairs while Kevin pelts them, there are many moments that are just a bit too over the top.
The endless dropping of bricks on Marv's head or Harry getting catapulted somehow onto a car just shows how far this film has gone off the rails. It will work for some, but it just takes away from any sense of tension, even if Kevin ultimately gets caught.
The trio return to action, and they are so much fun together. Macaulay Culkin seems more comfortable in front of the camera and works well off the variety of actors around him, and Home Alone 2 is littered with great actors.
Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern have chemistry to spare as a duo and get to work off Culkin more directly this time around. They are all in on the slapstick humor that will delight younger audiences in particular.
Home Alone 2 would never have the staying power of the original Home Alone. In some ways, it actually points out the flaws in the original. However, Home Alone has the benefit of being the first and defining a generation of stunt comedy holiday movies while Home Alone 2 is just a solid, fun, and silly comedy.
The heart of the movie is its comedy and returning antics. This is where the movie also suffers in comparison. While there are some wonderful moments like Harry exploding after he puts his burning head in kerosene or both trying to get up stairs while Kevin pelts them, there are many moments that are just a bit too over the top.
The endless dropping of bricks on Marv's head or Harry getting catapulted somehow onto a car just shows how far this film has gone off the rails. It will work for some, but it just takes away from any sense of tension, even if Kevin ultimately gets caught.
The trio return to action, and they are so much fun together. Macaulay Culkin seems more comfortable in front of the camera and works well off the variety of actors around him, and Home Alone 2 is littered with great actors.
Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern have chemistry to spare as a duo and get to work off Culkin more directly this time around. They are all in on the slapstick humor that will delight younger audiences in particular.
Home Alone 2 would never have the staying power of the original Home Alone. In some ways, it actually points out the flaws in the original. However, Home Alone has the benefit of being the first and defining a generation of stunt comedy holiday movies while Home Alone 2 is just a solid, fun, and silly comedy.
