Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Rent/Purchase
Instead of flying to Florida with his folks, Kevin ends up alone in New York, where he gets a hotel room with his dad's credit card—despite problems from a clerk and meddling bellboy. But when Kevin runs into his old nemeses, the Wet Bandits, he's determined to foil their plans to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics largely dismissed the sequel as a cynical retread — a bigger, louder, more violent remake of the first film that replaces genuine charm with formula and excess. Audiences at the time were far more forgiving, rewarding it with strong approval where professional critics saw only diminishing returns.
“Whatever was unforced and funny in the first film has become exaggerated here, whatever was slightly sentimental has been laid on with a trowel. The result, with some exceptions, plays like an over-elaborate parody of the first film, reminding us why we enjoyed it without being able to duplicate its appeal.”
Kenneth Turan·Los Angeles Times
“cartoon violence is only funny in cartoons. Most of the live-action attempts to duplicate animation have failed, because when flesh-and-blood figures hit the pavement, we can almost hear the bones crunch, and it isn't funny.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Home Alone 2 may be lazily conceived, but it is staged with a sense of occasion and a lot of holiday cheer. The return of Mr. Culkin in this role is irresistible, even if this utterly natural comic actor has been given little new to do.”
Janet Maslin·The New York Times
“Home Alone 2 precisely follows the formula that made its predecessor the biggest grossing comedy in human history. But no, it is not a drag, and it is not a rip-off. Look on it as a twice-told fairy tale.”
Richard Schickel·Time
“action sequences are well-choreographed, if, perhaps, too mean-spirited even in light of their cartoonish nature”
Brian Lowry·Variety
Genres
Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Cast & Crew
DirectorChris Columbus
StarringMacaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O'Hara, John Heard
ComposerJohn Williams
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Instead of flying to Florida with his folks, Kevin ends up alone in New York, where he gets a hotel room with his dad's credit card—despite problems from a clerk and meddling bellboy. But when Kevin runs into his old nemeses, the Wet Bandits, he's determined to foil their plans to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve.
What critics thought
DivisiveCritics largely dismissed the sequel as a cynical retread — a bigger, louder, more violent remake of the first film that replaces genuine charm with formula and excess. Audiences at the time were far more forgiving, rewarding it with strong approval where professional critics saw only diminishing returns.
“Whatever was unforced and funny in the first film has become exaggerated here, whatever was slightly sentimental has been laid on with a trowel. The result, with some exceptions, plays like an over-elaborate parody of the first film, reminding us why we enjoyed it without being able to duplicate its appeal.”
Kenneth Turan·Los Angeles Times
“cartoon violence is only funny in cartoons. Most of the live-action attempts to duplicate animation have failed, because when flesh-and-blood figures hit the pavement, we can almost hear the bones crunch, and it isn't funny.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“Home Alone 2 may be lazily conceived, but it is staged with a sense of occasion and a lot of holiday cheer. The return of Mr. Culkin in this role is irresistible, even if this utterly natural comic actor has been given little new to do.”
Janet Maslin·The New York Times
“Home Alone 2 precisely follows the formula that made its predecessor the biggest grossing comedy in human history. But no, it is not a drag, and it is not a rip-off. Look on it as a twice-told fairy tale.”
Richard Schickel·Time
“action sequences are well-choreographed, if, perhaps, too mean-spirited even in light of their cartoonish nature”
Brian Lowry·Variety
Genres
Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Cast & Crew
DirectorChris Columbus
StarringMacaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O'Hara, John Heard
ComposerJohn Williams
Rent/Purchase