Home Alone 2: the 30th Anniversary
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Jan. 10, 2022, 6:51 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
This year is the 30th anniversary of Home Alone 2, the sequel to Home Alone, the bestselling Christmas film that made Macaulay Culkin a superstar. The first film was highly profitable, so it was all but certain that the studio would make a sequel.
The plot of the sequel is almost a complete repeat of the original, but is one of the rare instances where such a formula actually works, due to the quality of the writing and the talent of the actors (with another notable instance of such success being Ghostbusters II), but the writers did ensure that the sequel was sufficiently different to still feel fresh and new. I also personally believe that the sequel is darker and edgier than the original, because, this time, Kevin is in an unfamiliar and unforgiving environment, not in his own house, and the traps that Kevin sets are far more dangerous, or even deadly, in this film. Just as in the first film, Kevin’s family never learned that he thwarted the plans of two criminals, but, unlike in the first film, Kevin was never shown cleaning up the house in which he set the traps, so I wonder what his aunt and uncle thought when they returned to their house?
Home Alone 2 was, as far as I know, also financially successful, but another installment was not made until 1998, by which time, Macaulay Culkin was too old to continue playing his role, so that movie featured an entirely new cast of characters, but I prefer to not mention that movie, as its quality was nowhere close to that of the first two. Some people around my age may vaguely remember Home Alone 3, but it may surprise people to know that two more movies with the Home Alone title were made, but, according to what I have heard, they were of abysmally poor quality and deserve to be forgotten.
The fact that this film is now thirty years old certainly makes me feel old, as I can remember watching it at a young age, shortly after it was released, but aging is an inevitable fact of life, and I am glad that I have my fond memories of that film.
What does everyone else here say about this? What are your feelings about this year being the 30th anniversary of Home Alone 2?
DemonDragonJ says... #3
Niko9, I, also, prefer to ignore Kingdom of the Crystal Skull whenever possible, as well.
Niko9 says... #2
30 years? Really : ) Ha, that makes me feel a little old, but that's bound to happen eventually.
I don't remember the second one much other than I enjoyed it as a kid. And I mean, sure both movies had a formula, but they did it well, and in the end doing it well is all that counts. Indiana Jones absolutely has a formula and they are all good. All of them except the one that doesn't exist. There are no extradimensional aliens in Indiana Jones, and no matter what anyone shows me, it's going to stay that way : )
Ha, so yeah, I agree about the second home alone, even if I don't remember it much. But I like Ghostbusters 2 and Temple of Doom, and people sometimes turn their noses at those movies. I'd never say that any of these sequels were as good as the originals, but given time we've seen what the worst case scenario of sequels can look like, and these sure aren't it. Looking at you Creed 2/Rocky 7
January 13, 2022 2:50 p.m.