This is of course the sequel to the classic Christmas film Home Alone, and it doesn't disappoint! Taking place in new York rather than the McAllister home, it has the same characters, some similar themes and scenes to the original, but without it feeling too much like a complete copy. If you enjoyed the first film then this is definitely worth seeing as it has similar events and humour. It may feel a bit familiar but it is still filled with hilarious and sweet moments.
Kevin smiling innocently
Plot Summary
Instead of leaving Kevin (Macauley Culkin) at home, this time Kevin gets on the wrong flight, meaning he ends up in New York whilst his family are in Florida. As Kevin says "My family's in Florida..I'm in...New York?!", and what could be better, especially when you have your dad's credit card! As in the first film, seeing Kevin living his best life, but this time in New York and in the posh hotel is incredibly entertaining.
Of course the film has to have its villains, and the 'Wet Bandits' are back for round two, but this time as the 'Sticky Bandits"! We'll ignore the massive coincidence that Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv ( Daniel Stern) end up in NYC at the same time as Kevin, and then in such a big city actually meet him! Anyway, Harry and Marv are planning to rob a toy store, and for some reason boast about it to Kevin.
Kevin also meets a 'Pigeon Lady' and spends a lot of time chatting to her and having a generally uplifting and heart-warming conversation about love, trust, and friendship. After this interlude from the action, Kevin sets up traps in his uncle's empty house where he plans to lure Harry and Marv. Harry and Marv endure a load of injuries, just like the first film.
Meanwhile, Kevin's family did eventually realise he was missing and finally track him down to New York, where they have to then try and find his exact location!
Thoughts
Home Alone 2 takes some of the best bits from the first film and changes them enough so they feel familiar but are just as funny! I prefer the first film, just because I saw it first, so when I saw this film, seeing Harry and Marv getting hurt by all the traps etc set up by Kevin felt a bit repetitive. I feel that part of the film dragged a bit and could have been made shorter. Kevin throwing a black heavy object Inner strength
I also liked how Kevin's family were in the film a bit more, and seeing his mum search New York to find him. The scenes with the whole family in the hotel were hilarious too, especially when the bill came through...
In my opinion the rest of the film is as good as the first film. I liked the addition of the toy store, with the two doves and also as another 'scene' for Kevin to disrupt Harry and Marv's crimes. However, (and this might be an unpopular opinion), I wasn't overly bothered with the 'Pigeon lady'. I liked that she was in it, and it was nice that Kevin made her happier, but I preferred his relationship with the old man in the first film. She added to the film, but also slowed it down and made it drag on a bit, so I would have liked her incorporated in a better way (but don't ask me how as I'm not sure!)
Favorite Scene
Absolutely only one contender for this, and it is of course "Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!" One of the scenes that was perhaps better than in the first film, and is a truly laugh out loud moment. The faces of Tim Curry as the concierge and the rest of the staff (especially when 'Cliff' is mentioned) were truly iconic.
Absolutely love it.
Favourite Character Hotel staff- the bellboy, concierge, and clerk Incompetent but brilliant
Kevin is an obvious choice, because he is the film! But aside from him, I did like Hester Stone, the desk clerk. It was only a small role but she was incredibly mean, condescending, and funny! All the hotel staff were brilliant.
Her faces during this conversation and her "I'm confused" gets me every time. As well as Kevin just being weird/clever/funny as usual!
Final Thoughts
Overall, Kevin is the undisputed star of the film! I love the beginning of the film, and everything about Kevin in the hotel. I don't like the traps as much as the first film as they feel a bit forced, repetitive and like they're trying too hard to be funnier than the first film and for me it doesn't really work. the rest of the film is fab though!
It is definitely worth seeing (unless you hated the first film...) as it is impossible not to find it funny! And there are some nice, deeper, quieter moments integrated into the slapstick fun, as with the first film, which makes it a little bit more than just a simple comedy.
Don't get me wrong though, the comedy is the main attraction of the film!
Plot Summary
Instead of leaving Kevin (Macauley Culkin) at home, this time Kevin gets on the wrong flight, meaning he ends up in New York whilst his family are in Florida. As Kevin says "My family's in Florida..I'm in...New York?!", and what could be better, especially when you have your dad's credit card! As in the first film, seeing Kevin living his best life, but this time in New York and in the posh hotel is incredibly entertaining.
Of course the film has to have its villains, and the 'Wet Bandits' are back for round two, but this time as the 'Sticky Bandits"! We'll ignore the massive coincidence that Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv ( Daniel Stern) end up in NYC at the same time as Kevin, and then in such a big city actually meet him! Anyway, Harry and Marv are planning to rob a toy store, and for some reason boast about it to Kevin.
Kevin also meets a 'Pigeon Lady' and spends a lot of time chatting to her and having a generally uplifting and heart-warming conversation about love, trust, and friendship. After this interlude from the action, Kevin sets up traps in his uncle's empty house where he plans to lure Harry and Marv. Harry and Marv endure a load of injuries, just like the first film.
Meanwhile, Kevin's family did eventually realise he was missing and finally track him down to New York, where they have to then try and find his exact location!
Thoughts
Home Alone 2 takes some of the best bits from the first film and changes them enough so they feel familiar but are just as funny! I prefer the first film, just because I saw it first, so when I saw this film, seeing Harry and Marv getting hurt by all the traps etc set up by Kevin felt a bit repetitive. I feel that part of the film dragged a bit and could have been made shorter. Kevin throwing a black heavy object Inner strength
I also liked how Kevin's family were in the film a bit more, and seeing his mum search New York to find him. The scenes with the whole family in the hotel were hilarious too, especially when the bill came through...
In my opinion the rest of the film is as good as the first film. I liked the addition of the toy store, with the two doves and also as another 'scene' for Kevin to disrupt Harry and Marv's crimes. However, (and this might be an unpopular opinion), I wasn't overly bothered with the 'Pigeon lady'. I liked that she was in it, and it was nice that Kevin made her happier, but I preferred his relationship with the old man in the first film. She added to the film, but also slowed it down and made it drag on a bit, so I would have liked her incorporated in a better way (but don't ask me how as I'm not sure!)
Favorite Scene
Absolutely only one contender for this, and it is of course "Merry Christmas ya filthy animals!" One of the scenes that was perhaps better than in the first film, and is a truly laugh out loud moment. The faces of Tim Curry as the concierge and the rest of the staff (especially when 'Cliff' is mentioned) were truly iconic.
Absolutely love it.
Favourite Character Hotel staff- the bellboy, concierge, and clerk Incompetent but brilliant
Kevin is an obvious choice, because he is the film! But aside from him, I did like Hester Stone, the desk clerk. It was only a small role but she was incredibly mean, condescending, and funny! All the hotel staff were brilliant.
Her faces during this conversation and her "I'm confused" gets me every time. As well as Kevin just being weird/clever/funny as usual!
Final Thoughts
Overall, Kevin is the undisputed star of the film! I love the beginning of the film, and everything about Kevin in the hotel. I don't like the traps as much as the first film as they feel a bit forced, repetitive and like they're trying too hard to be funnier than the first film and for me it doesn't really work. the rest of the film is fab though!
It is definitely worth seeing (unless you hated the first film...) as it is impossible not to find it funny! And there are some nice, deeper, quieter moments integrated into the slapstick fun, as with the first film, which makes it a little bit more than just a simple comedy.
Don't get me wrong though, the comedy is the main attraction of the film!