It’s another Christmas, a year later, and young Kevin is lost again.
I’m not sure if there’s some intensely bad parenting involved, or if the kid just attracts trouble, but so it goes. It’s basically Die Hard 2, with a ten-year-old, and everyone in-universe pretty much knows it. “Not again” is the theme, which I think works. Like the original Home Alone, HA 2 isn’t actually a Christmas film: it only takes place during Christmas. There’s a difference. I suggest you read my theories on Non-Christmas Christmas Films and let me know what you think.
Macaulay Culkin, once more, carries the whole movie on his narrow shoulders. He still manages to infuse his character with charm. Kevin’s a clever kid with a ton of tricks up his sleeve
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
Everyone else is a waste of space
Catherine O’Hara isn’t utilized properly and poor John Heard (RIP) was just there to pick up a paycheck. Joe Piscapo is spectacularly dreadful. The initial family moments recalling the first film are a crack up, but things go downhill fast from there. At least Kevin made it to the airport this time. The writing/dialog in this outing really isn’t up to snuff, so maybe there wasn’t much to work with. (You’d think the Big Apple would have a lot to work with.)
There’s a blink and you’ll miss it Donald Trump cameo that I never knew was in Home Alone 2, but it makes total sense in this setting. It’s a “huge” double-take moment in 2022, considering what’s happened in the real world since 1992!
The Wet Bandits — now the Sticky Bandits — are back, but more cartoonishly, incredibly, ridiculously stupid in this go-around. They haven’t learned a thing and should realize that chasing this kid leads to nothing good. (And yes, Kevin would be a child murderer if any of this was real.)
I also think the Big Apple could have been used to better effect. It should have leaned into the more humourous and iconic elements of the setting — they definitely filmed on location in parts but depended on too many establishing shots that didn’t convince.
What I liked: the theme of not judging someone because they look different is back. Instead of Old Man Marley, we get a pigeon lady. Those characters are just lovely; my favorite parts of both films.
I don’t want to diss this film unnecessarily. I wish I had more to say about it. The original Home Alone raised the bar so high that this…average effort seems the worse for it.
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
Movie Watching Must Have!!
I go feral for this app. I love it so much and I wish everyone knew about it and used it. It is incredibly useful and I would be devastated if this app ever disappeared. Things I love: 1) the pee times! It’s so handy to know the best time to go and then read the synopsis of what’s happening while I’m gone. I never have to worry about missing the good bits! 2) knowing if there is a post-credits scene or not. This might be my fav feature because I would have missed out on some pretty critical scenes if it weren’t for RunPee. 3) the movie review and viewer rankings. This info has made me watch some movies that I normally wouldn’t and it’s nice seeing things outside of my usual scope. 4) that it’s a small family run business. I love shopping small and it really does feel like I’m part of the RunPee family! If you reach out to them, Dan will personally respond to you and he is so warm and helpful. GET THIS APP AND THEN SUBSCRIBE! It is absolutely worth it and you’ll be using it again and again!
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
This isn’t a bad sequel, but it’s not as funny, clever, or cute as the first
I think I’ll fold at this point; I hear the next FOUR subsequent sequels aren’t worth watching. This clocks in with a grand total of 6 Home Alone movies, with various precocious children. Did you even know this was a franchise? Apparently Home Sweet Home Alone came out this year (2021), but we at RunPee haven’t heard of it. Granted, since it’s the second year of the pandemic, most movies didn’t hit actual theaters. We’re not perturbed. Maybe we’re even relieved we didn’t have to see it.
Is Home Alone 2 still worth seeing?
If you love Home Alone 1 and want to see more of the same, take a look. I would have liked to see the holiday hijinks happen in the fabulous toy store, but I guess FAO Shwartz wasn’t up for it.
Movie Grade: C+
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Moana 2, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kraven the Hunter, Wicked, Gladiator II and coming soon Mufasa: The Lion King, Nosferatu, A Complete Unknown and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply