Premiering two years after the initial shenanigans of the McCallister family vacation, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York hit cinemas in 1992 to follow the spirited Kevin tackle the Big Apple.
Fuelled by the vocal talents of Darlene Love’s iconic single ‘All Alone On Christmas’, now synonymous with the film through the iconic ’90s film-music video format, Home Alone 2 acts as a comforting indulgence during the cold winter period. Whilst reflecting on its 30-year anniversary on-screen, the first of (to date) five Home Alone sequels continues to assert itself as a must-watch for yearly viewing.
In his career-defining role as a child actor, Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister. Though short in stature, this nine-year-old main character dominates the film with his cheeky spirit and effusive energy to cause mayhem. Juxtaposing this is the villain double act Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci), local criminals imprisoned for stealing from vacant houses during the original film and infamously recognised as the “wet bandits.” Empathetically cutting through this mischief is Catherine O’Hara as Kate, Kevin’s stressed mother who wants nothing more than to achieve a perfect, stress-free, whole-family Christmas celebration.
Whilst Home Alone saw Kevin battling the wet bandits from robbing his house whilst he was accidently left at home over Christmas, he enters the new year safe in the knowledge that both Marv and Harry have been taken to prison. Set one year later, the McCallister family are determined not to forget Kevin again and yet lose him at the airport as he accidentally travels on the wrong flight. Although overwhelmed, Kevin seizes the opportunity to have some fun and explore what New York city has to offer. This quickly becomes eschewed when he bumps into the wet bandits, fresh from breaking out of prison, who are determined to rob a local toy shop. Using his wits, imagination, and juvenile humour, Kevin spends the film determined to restore justice and have some fun.
Through the artistic lens of director Chris Columbus, notable for his work within the Harry Potter series and Night at the Museum trilogy (to name but a few), a creative landscape of unlimited opportunity is established. In a big city, a small kid is presented as a changemaker of his own destiny, with the potential to achieve whatever his heart desires. What could easily appear intimidating and daunting to young audiences as a metropolitan madness is instead a sophisticated depiction of unreached potential, encouraging children to look at their surroundings with creativity and curiosity. The captivating effervescence of the film is the main instigator of sustaining a jolly and festive atmosphere within a child’s imagination and narrative. This is amplified even further through the quasi-slapstick whole-body performance provided by Stern and Pesci, who humorously face the brunt of Kevin’s innovative methods to defend the toy shop (and Christmas itself).
“If you need somebody to trust, it can be me. I won’t forget to remember you.”
Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin)
Culkin’s storytelling abilities are a standalone performance on screen, yet his antics are encouraged through a variety of celebrity cameos and supporting characters across the film. The eccentric concierge, played by Tim Curry, pays homage to a cartoonish adult figure that uniquely offsets Kevin’s pranks around the hotel he stays at. Within the hotel itself, Donald Trump makes an appearance to direct Kevin to the lobby (a cameo which Culkin has subsequently requested be removed from the film). Only through the friendships he makes along the way does Kevin stand a chance of defeating the wet bandits once and for all and stopping the burglary at the toy shop on Christmas Eve. Delicately contrasting this storyline is the determination of Kate McCallister to reunite with Kevin, spurred by the love and worry she holds for her child. With the looming intensity of spending Christmas Day alone, or robbed, the fast-paced adventure is soaked in ’90s nostalgia and chaotic pursuit.
It may come as no surprise that the film continues to be rejoiced by fans across December, with the two-hour feature grossing over $350 million worldwide and placing as one of the highest-grossing films of 1992. Further films have been made under the Home Alone legacy, including a more recent reboot starring Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney as sympathetic parents who then become the criminal instigators (the film unfortunately gained only 11% on Rotten Tomatoes). Yet few contenders can challenge the movie’s high standards it sets itself for comedic, festive, and family entertainment, with Culkin’s performance as Kevin enshrined as an iconic character in pop culture.
After 30 years, Home Alone 2 has eternalised itself within holiday watching as a standalone movie. What could easily have faltered as a failure to capitalise on a revered original film instead continues the adventure which originally hooked audiences. In comedic efforts in preventing crime and saving Christmas, all resting on the shoulders of a lost nine-year-old wandering around New York City, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is a vibrant piece of cinema which continues to boldly bring festive fun for all viewers.
Words by Alanya Smith
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