This film copped a bad wrap when it was announced due to Home Alone 4 ("Home Alone: Taking Back The House"). That film may be the worst film ever made. This is actually quite good. It's at least as good as, if not better than, Home Alone 3. It doesn't come close to capturing the first two Home Alone movies, but for what it is, it's actually worth watching.
A lot of people ask "Why was this made?". It was made, like all movies, to be entertainment. It does its job there. In addition to main "kid" (Christian Martyn) of the film, there is Finn's younger neighbour (Peter DaCunha)and his older sister (Jodelle Ferland). All of them are well cast and avoid the "annoying kid syndrome" that plagues so many movies. The parents. DaCunha is particular good and had me laughing every time he was on screen.
This time there are three thieves (Malcom McDowell, Debi Mazar and Eddie Steeples). All three are good. They don't make the impact of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern by any means, but compared to the unmemorable thieves in Home Alone 3 and the god-awful French Stewart in Home Alone 4 (to be fair Missi Pyle was the ONLY good thing about that movie), the three do really well.
The parents (Ellie Harvey and Doug Murray) are a bit annoying but have their funny moments, the mum in particular. The movie is surprisingly well-directed and avoids many TV movie pitfalls. Only a few times did it feel "cheap", which is quite an achievement for a TV movie and one of the biggest faults of the fourth movie. The story isn't bad for one of these films and manages to capture the basic structure of a Home Alone film without copying it.
It's not the most brilliant film you've ever watched, but no one expects it to be. For me, it was a surprise how good this was. It made me nostalgic, having grown up with the originals, and I think kids would really dig it.
It does what it sets out to do quite well and manages to be entertaining. Definitely worth a look.
A lot of people ask "Why was this made?". It was made, like all movies, to be entertainment. It does its job there. In addition to main "kid" (Christian Martyn) of the film, there is Finn's younger neighbour (Peter DaCunha)and his older sister (Jodelle Ferland). All of them are well cast and avoid the "annoying kid syndrome" that plagues so many movies. The parents. DaCunha is particular good and had me laughing every time he was on screen.
This time there are three thieves (Malcom McDowell, Debi Mazar and Eddie Steeples). All three are good. They don't make the impact of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern by any means, but compared to the unmemorable thieves in Home Alone 3 and the god-awful French Stewart in Home Alone 4 (to be fair Missi Pyle was the ONLY good thing about that movie), the three do really well.
The parents (Ellie Harvey and Doug Murray) are a bit annoying but have their funny moments, the mum in particular. The movie is surprisingly well-directed and avoids many TV movie pitfalls. Only a few times did it feel "cheap", which is quite an achievement for a TV movie and one of the biggest faults of the fourth movie. The story isn't bad for one of these films and manages to capture the basic structure of a Home Alone film without copying it.
It's not the most brilliant film you've ever watched, but no one expects it to be. For me, it was a surprise how good this was. It made me nostalgic, having grown up with the originals, and I think kids would really dig it.
It does what it sets out to do quite well and manages to be entertaining. Definitely worth a look.