Today’s quick review: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) gets another Christmas on his own when he boards the wrong flight and ends up in New York without his family. Kevin takes the opportunity to see the city and spoil himself using his dad’s credit card. But his vacation is cut short when he runs into Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), a pair of escaped convicts who plan to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve.
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a Christmas comedy about a boy left on his own for Christmas. Lost in New York puts a new spin on the Home Alone premise by dropping Kevin in New York. The Plaza Hotel, Central Park, and his uncle’s empty townhouse take the place of the McCallisters’ home and neighborhood from the first movie. Home Alone 2 lacks the delicate touch of the original but retains its cast, winning formula, and sense of fun.
Lost in New York hews closely to the template laid down by the first movie. The specific circumstances are different, but the premise, the story beats, and even many of the gags are the same. The change in scenery does go a long way towards keeping the humor fresh, giving Kevin a brand new environment to run wild in, but the movie takes very few chances on the whole. The result is a comedy that’s predictable but still spirited and enjoyable.
Other differences from the original include a looser story, more violent slapstick, and less heart. Unlike the first movie, Kevin seeks out trouble, passing up several opportunities to alert the authorities and go home. The plot still hangs together well enough to entertain, but it’s not as robust as the first film’s. The sequel also invests less time in its themes of family and responsibility, leading to tender moments that feel perfunctory.
Still, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a fun watch that’s full of mischief, slapstick, and holiday spirit. Those looking for a feel-good Christmas movie with a light story and some good laughs should look no further. Those looking for a more heartfelt story should stick with the original Home Alone. For another movie that uses Joe Pesci’s comedic talents, try My Cousin Vinny. For a similar flavor of Christmas movie, try A Christmas Story.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for fun slapstick and solid execution without the depth or originality of the first movie.