the fresh films reviews

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Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Preceded by: Home Alone (1990)
Succeeded by: Home Alone 3 (1997)

Director:
Chris Colombus
COUNTRY
USA
GENRE
Comedy
NORWEGIAN TITLE
Alene hjemme 2 - forlatt i New York
RUNNING TIME
120 minutes
Producer:
John Hughes
Screenwriter:
John Hughes


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Kevin McCallister Macaulay Culkin
Harry Joe Pesci ½
Marv Daniel Stern ½
Kate McCallister Catherine O’Hara
Peter McCallister John Heard
Buzz Devin Ratray ½
Concierge Tim Curry
Pigeon Lady Brenda Fricker ½
Desk Clerk Dana Ivey
Ticket Agent Ally Sheedy

 

Review

Rarely has a success-story been as unabashedly copy-pasted as in Home Alone 2. Still, it isn't the lack of creativity that makes this flick almost unwatchable: Where Home Alone balanced on a knife-edge when it came to how Kevin MacAllister downright thrashes the two antagonists, the sequel is brutally over-the-top. The film is jam-packed with violence which is presented with ostensible warmth and joy. It's discomfortable at best. The filmmakers don't seem to realize that the representations are inherently graphical, something the cheerful tone cannot redeem. On the contrary it only makes it worse, because it implies that throwing bricks at people's heads and setting them on fire can be seen as an expression of righteousness. The only things keeping this film remotely watchable are Macaulay Culkin squeezing out the last drops of his childish charm and some segments boasting a fun Tim Curry.

Re-reviewed: Copyright © 05.01.2015 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
Original review:
Copyright © 18.06.1996 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang