Home Alone 2: Lost In New York Parent Guide

Another John Hughes “epic” where Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is once again left behind by two of the most inept parents in the world as they leave on their Florida vacation. As mom and dad rush to get on the plane, the nice lady from American Airlines (a company who has the gall to openly sponsor this movie) tells them she will ensure that all their family members will be on the plane. With Florida beaches on their minds, the parents are dumb enough to believe her, and Kevin winds up on a flight to New York (with even more inept American Airlines staff.)

If you have seen the first Home Alone (and if you didn’t, you are one of very few that were spared), I can assure you that this movie continues the tradition of sadistic humour and child abuse. But in fine John Hughes style, he once again puts another heart swelling story into the plot, hoping you can justify this movie as being really not that bad of a film.

Kevin’s parents need to be arrested. They show (especially the father) no love or attachment to this child at all. They are so wrapped up in their huge home (how do people this stupid get so rich?) and their vacations, that they, along with their wisecracking relatives, really have no need for children. Even with the heart tugging scene set at the foot of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, you really have to wonder what these people are doing with children.

A critic should never quote another critic, but I can’t replace Roger Ebert’s comment: “Cartoon violence is only funny in the cartoons.” Watching Harry and Marv, the two stupid crooks from the first movie, get pelted with bricks, electrocuted, blown up, set on fire, etc… (the list is endless)—is just nothing to laugh about. And what I cannot believe is how many people in this country will still set their kids in front of this film, thinking they will laugh it off and not retain a thing.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.