In the spirit of the holiday season, we revisit the 1992 classic, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. This film takes us back to the mischievous antics of Kevin McCallister, this time in the bustling metropolis of New York City. With its familiar plot twists, slapstick humor, and heartwarming moments, Home Alone 2 remains a beloved holiday staple for many. However, I can’t help but point out a few flaws that have aged less gracefully than the film’s charm.
Review by Ben Dover:
Rating: 3/5 Martinis (I needed extra drinks to swallow the plot holes)
Home Alone 2 follows the same basic formula as its predecessor. Kevin, left behind by his family on Christmas Eve, finds himself stranded in New York City. While navigating the big city, he encounters a pair of bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv, who are determined to rob a toy store. Kevin, using his ingenuity and a plethora of booby traps, sets out to foil their plans and save the day.
If the first “Home Alone” was a Christmas miracle, this sequel is like finding coal in your stocking – not terrible, but you know somebody’s just going through the motions. It’s 1992, and apparently, the McCallister family STILL hasn’t learned about basic headcounting or possibly investing in some child tracking devices.
This time, our pint-sized sadist Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) doesn’t get left at home – oh no, that would be too obvious. Instead, he gets on the wrong plane and ends up in New York City, which in 1992 was about as family-friendly as my ex-wife at an alimony hearing. Instead of ending up dead in an alley (which would’ve been a much shorter movie), Kevin checks into the Plaza Hotel with his father’s credit card. And people say kids today don’t have life skills.
The Plaza Hotel scenes feature a young Donald Trump in a cameo that aged about as well as my first marriage. But the real star is Tim Curry as the hotel concierge, who suspects Kevin is up to no good. Curry plays the role like he’s auditioning for a Broadway show about suspicious hotel staff, and it’s glorious.
Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern return as Harry and Marv, now calling themselves the “Sticky Bandits” instead of the “Wet Bandits” because apparently, criminal rebranding is a thing. These two must have the same medical insurance as Wile E. Coyote because they endure even MORE physical trauma than in the first movie. We’re talking bricks to the face, electrocution, and a fall that would’ve turned normal humans into sidewalk pizza. Either they’re secretly superhuman, or this movie takes place in the same universe as “Unbreakable.”
The violence in this one makes the first movie look like “Sesame Street.” Kevin has clearly evolved from home defender to future serial killer, creating traps that would make Jigsaw from “Saw” take notes. There’s something deeply disturbing about watching a child gleefully inflict near-fatal injuries while Christmas music plays in the background. It’s like “Die Hard” for the juice box crowd.
Catherine O’Hara returns as Kevin’s mom, once again proving that the McCallisters are the worst travelers since the Donner Party. She spends the movie running around New York like a caffeinated squirrel, which is actually a pretty accurate portrayal of most tourists in Manhattan.
The movie does have its moments. The scene in the toy store (Duncan’s Toy Chest) captures some genuine Christmas magic, right before Kevin turns the city into his personal torture chamber. And I’ll admit, watching Kevin outsmart the hotel staff is more entertaining than it should be, probably because I’ve had similar fantasies about outsmarting my credit card company.
Bottom Line: It’s like when your kid asks you to tell the same bedtime story again – you know it won’t be as good as the first time, but you go along with it anyway. It’s bigger, louder, and more violent than the original, kind of like my second wife.
Fun Fact: This movie made $359 million worldwide, proving that lightning can strike twice, especially if you’re carrying a car battery through a flooded basement.
Memorable Quote: “Down the hall and to the left.” – Donald Trump, delivering what might be the most honest directions ever given to a lost child in New York.
Best Scene: When the bird lady teaches Kevin about second chances, right before he goes back to committing multiple felony assaults. Nothing says “Christmas spirit” quite like emotional whiplash.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go cancel my credit cards before my grandkids figure out how to book themselves into the Four Seasons.
Ben “Get Off My Lawn” Dover has been banned from the Plaza Hotel for asking too many questions about their security protocols. His wife says he’s no longer allowed to watch movies involving precocious children or creative uses of tools.
Synopsis: Home Alone 2 follows the story of Kevin McCallister, a young boy who is accidentally left behind by his family on Christmas Eve. This time, instead of being home alone, Kevin finds himself stranded in New York City. While navigating the big city, he encounters a pair of bumbling burglars, Harry and Marv, who are determined to rob a toy store. Kevin, using his ingenuity and a plethora of booby traps, sets out to foil their plans and save the day.
Plot Breakdown: The film begins with the McCallisters preparing for their Christmas vacation in Florida. However, in the midst of the chaos, Kevin accidentally boards the wrong plane and ends up in New York City. Left to fend for himself, Kevin checks into the Plaza Hotel and encounters a variety of eccentric characters, including the eccentric Mr. Duncan and the kind-hearted pigeon lady. Meanwhile, Harry and Marv, having just escaped from prison, are planning to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve. Kevin, unaware of their plans, befriends a group of pigeons and uses them to spy on the burglars. As Christmas Eve approaches, Kevin sets up a series of elaborate booby traps throughout the hotel to foil Harry and Marv’s plans. With the help of his newfound friends and his own ingenuity, Kevin manages to outsmart the burglars and save the day, just in time for Christmas.
5 Famous Quotes from Home Alone 2:
- “Keep the change, ya filthy animal!” – Kevin McCallister
- “Have you ever seen a grown man naked?” – Kevin McCallister
- “I’m not a kid, I’m a man with a plan!” – Kevin McCallister
- “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!” – Kevin McCallister
- “I’m not alone, I’ve got my friends.” – Kevin McCallister
5 Interesting Notes from Home Alone 2:
- The film was originally titled Home Alone 2: Kevin in New York.
- The film was shot on location in New York City, including the Plaza Hotel and Central Park.
- The film features a cameo appearance by Donald Trump, who plays himself.
- The film was a box office success, grossing over $359 million worldwide.
- The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Original Score and Best Sound Editing.
Trailer:
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Trailer