46
Metascore
22 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 70The Hollywood ReporterDuane ByrgeThe Hollywood ReporterDuane ByrgeWriter-producer Hughes and director Chris Columbus have wrapped up the same winning story ornaments from 1990's holiday smash, repackaged them in gleaming array and topped them with a sparkling slapstick climax. While some Scrooge-ish adults may niggle that this sequel is merely a superimposition of the original, kids will be delighted by its keeping all their favorite goodies.
- 70NewsweekDavid AnsenNewsweekDavid AnsenLet's face it: Culkin's self-reliant suburban warrior has entered a whole generations pop mythology. He's their Knight in Shining Parka, safely beyond criticism.
- 60VarietyBrian LowryVarietyBrian LowryThe studio has simply re-made the first movie, only with bigger pratfalls.
- 50Chicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumChicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumThe action has been transferred from suburbia to New York City, but otherwise the filmmakers stick like glue to the formula of the original: a little boy from a well-to-do family left on his own is threatened by low-life working-class crooks whom he repeatedly foils and tortures, and upscale property values prevail.
- 50Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertI didn't much like the first film, and I don't much like this one, with its sadistic little hero who mercilessly hammers a couple of slow-learning crooks.
- 50Time OutTime OutThis routine sequel has a trio of nice cameos, but no surprises.
- 40Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranWhatever was unforced and funny in the first film has become exaggerated here, whatever was slightly sentimental has been laid on with a trowel. The result, with some exceptions, plays like an over-elaborate parody of the first film, reminding us why we enjoyed it without being able to duplicate its appeal.
- 40The New York TimesJanet MaslinThe New York TimesJanet MaslinA film bursting with enthusiasm for a fresh, appealing fantasy has been replaced by one most eager to maintain the status quo.
- 0Austin ChronicleAustin ChronicleThe John Hughes script must have taken him all of thirty minutes to write – simply a matter of a few name and location changes. It wasn't a good script the first time, either.