Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) User Reviews

Merry Christmas You Filthy Animals

[Slarkshark · 8/10 · 25 December 2020]

I actually enjoy this one more than the first. Love seeing some of the iconic sites of New York City, and just what it looked like in 1992.

A very similar formula to the first but obviously set in NYC, so there was a lot of potential for different ideas which I felt they capitalized on. Steady laughs throughout from all the characters. The addition of Tim Curry was amazing. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern crack me up in their roles as the Wet/Sticky Bandits.

A very good sequel that delivers in pretty much every way, especially the Christmas feels.

I love it!

[dee.reid · 8/10 · 7 December 2005]

"Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is young Macaulay Culkin's second greatest hour in the series as Kevin McCallister, who has to learn to be a man again on the mean streets of the Big Apple after being separated from his family once more. He checks into a swank Manhattan hotel (where Donald Trump is apparently staying at too). He's pursued again by comic bad guys Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), and director Chris Columbus and screenwriter John Hughes keep the action and laughs coming. Tim Curry also appears as a concierge who has to prove that Kevin is on his own, and Brenda Fricker is the pigeon lady who watches over Kevin's little shoulder. There is another tricks & traps showdown at the end, which keeps the slapstick and comic violence at an all-time high.

8/10

Why are most of the reviews negative? This is almost better than the original

[reidyq · 8/10 · 16 December 2021]

I love this movie. It is not as good as the first movie but that isn't because it is not funnier, or it in general just isn't as entertaining. It is because it copies the first film way too much. A lot of stuff has a really low chance of happening, just like the original, and without spoiling it I will just say its very similar. Now that we are finished the bad things about this movie, lets get to the good things! This movie is the funniest film out of the Home Alone franchise, and I think most people will probably agree with me on that. Macaulay Culkin did really well, and so did everyone else in the main cast. This movie is almost as good as the original, (which is also 8/10) but I I wish the story was a bit more original.

Same plot. Same actors. New traps. No problem.

[Op_Prime · 16 April 2000]

Home Alone 2 has pretty much the same plot as the first movie, but Home Alone 2 is a very good sequel. The new traps for the Wet, er... Sticky Bandits are great. Once again Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern give wonderful performances. Having Tim Curry in this was also a treat. There is a lot of enjoyment in this movie.

More Christmas Fun. Although too much copied from Original

[josephdunn-67245 · 6/10 · 19 December 2023]

If you had watched Home Alone 2 before the original you would probably have enjoyed it more. Unfortunately for me there is just too many similarities to the original. Obviously the producers were looking to cash in on the enormously popular original and didn't want to sway to far away from what made it a success . But for me there is just too much regurgitation. It does have a few new elements and a few new enjoyable characters and overall the Movie is still a festive fun filled family adventure and no doubt all the elements I have touched on which are direct copies from the first is what probably appeals to younger family members. I have a nostalgia for Home Alone 2 and still watch It each year. But I don't hold it in the same regard as the original and with that in mind, a 6 is the most it can expect.

My personal favourite of the franchise

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 5 February 2009]

The first Home Alone is very good indeed. The last two are just wannabes and feel like they don't belong. Home Alone 2 is my personal favourite, and I watch it about once a month. The only problem is that the jokes are basically retreads of the first movie, but believe me, they're miles better than the ones in the fourth ( which is one of the worst movies ever) This is still a very solid film, that gets slow in the second half. The performances are excellent. Macaulay Culkin brought a lot of charm to almost all the movies he's been in. Just a shame, he isn't acting any more. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are hilarious, as always. Catherine O'Hara and John heard are amiable as the parents, while the wonderful Tim Curry gives a hilarious performance as the Concierge. My favourite scenes were the bathroom scene in the hotel, and when the staff are held hostage by a television. Just priceless. Eddie Bracken and Brenda Fricker also make appearances, and their scenes are touching, as they are of friendship and acceptance. I absolutely adored the soundtrack too, New York looks splendid and the Plaza Hotel was incredible to look at. Brilliant movie! 9/10. Bethany Cox

Minor changes are made: more violence and characters, moving the location to New York City, and changing the taste of the story. And the all-important humor is recycled!!! --

[F0RRESTGUMP · 7/10 · 21 January 2023]

There are different tastes in this film. Those who like the film say it is still fun, while those who dislike it say it is exactly the same as the previous film.

The McAllisters, a large family, are planning a Christmas trip to Miami. They are almost late and in their haste, they leave Kevin at the airport as they did last year. Kevin follows someone dressed like his father and gets on a flight to New York. When Kevin arrives in New York, he checks into a hotel with his father's card and uses his wits and a voice recorder to cover up the fact that he is alone in New York.

He goes to a toy store and meets a kindly old man. He tells us that "Mr. Duncan" is going to donate all the proceeds from this Eve to the hospital. When he leaves the store, he is caught by two thieves who once broke into Kevin's house. Kevin frames the two men for molestation. He manages to escape. He walks frightened through the eerie New York streets at night and meets a woman who is swarming with pigeons. At first he is afraid of her, but she saves him and he goes to the attic of a concert hall. After being advised to do something nice, Kevin decides to fight off the thieves and save the sick children and Mr. Duncan.

It's a very long synopsis, but it can't be helped as there is a great deal of foreshadowing in the first half of the film. In my opinion, the blatant storyline is saved by the action and new elements.

As bad as 3 was, Macaulay Culkin will prove to be very important to Home Alone. His sly Kevin character is delightful and funny. He may be a little less funny in 2, but that is saved by the hilarious characterizations around him.

Also, while closer to comedy than action, the thief being taken advantage of by the kid is overtly funny, and while it's not fresh since we saw a smattering of it last time, I still felt the idea still somewhat worked. We think one factor is that, unlike last time, the majority of the film is not invaded by this comedy.

The new additions to the story are also pleasing to us. I will tell those who criticize us for repainting the previous film by increasing the scale of violence and location, but it is not only the violence that has increased. I don't know if this will satisfy you, but there is some humor in Kevin relaxing gracefully in the hotel. Also, the increased characterization makes it more interesting.

Minor changes are made: more violence and characters, moving the location to New York City, and changing the taste of the story. And the all-important humor is recycled!!! -- The idea that this will fool the audience is obvious. We know this. But we still love Home Alone, its characters, and its humor, so we are fooled even though we know it.

Yes, same plot, but it still gets the same laughs as the first one did if not more

[Smells_Like_Cheese · 10/10 · 23 November 2003]

Now I'm aware that Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is the exact same plot as the first Home Alone, and not to mention how silly it seems that these folks would leave their kid behind, but come on, this movie was all in good fun. It still has me constantly laughing 'till this day, I think if you loved the first Home Alone, I'm sure that you'll just naturally love this one as well. Not too many folks are just giving it a good chance. I mean, the Wet Bandants are back and they are just as funny as ever! I think this house that Kevin set up was actually in some ways a little more fun than the first because of the traps he was able to set. Not to mention the Plaza Hotel plot was so great and fun to watch.

Kevin and his family are heading down to Florida for Christmas this year, but when Kevin gets mixed up at the air port and gets on the wrong flight, he ends up in New York. Instead of complaining or panicking, he just plain enjoys it. He goes on the ultimate tour with his father's bag of money and credit cards and cons himself into the Plaza Hotel claiming he's there with his dad. But the Wet Bandants who have now re-named themselves as the Sticky Bandants are in New York as well and are planning on stealing all the money from a toy store that is going to be given to the children's hospital. But Kevin is going to make sure that they don't mess around with the kids and has set his uncle's abandoned apartment up for a fun house of traps.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was an absolute blast. The reason I'm giving it a ten is because I think the rating should be higher. People really need to give this movie a shot. My favorite scene is without a doubt when Marv gets hit in the face with the bricks, also, the scene where the Plaza Hotel managers are asked by Kevin's mom "What kind of idiots do you have working here?!"... the lady just smiles and says "The finest in New York!", it was just too funny! I love this movie and I'm always going to recommend it for a good watch, I think you'll enjoy it if you give it a chance.

10/10

Weak Sequel

[claudonio · 2/10 · 1 February 2000]

"Home Alone 2" clones virtually every aspect of the original,without adding anything new or funny. The plot is basically the same except this time the movie takes place in New York and not in a house. Macaulay Culkin gives a decent performance but he can't save this movie. I suggest that anyone who wants to see this that they go rent the original, you will be much more entertained.

Christmas classic

[brandonrhewitt · 10/10 · 13 October 2020]

The first 2 home alone films are classics and i watch them ever year like a couple of times each a year since i was a kid and my honest opinion is that the second one is my favourite out of the 2 probably because is based in new york and as i'm not American seeing new york at Christmas is like a dream.

'Home', sweet home.....in New York

[smla02 · 31 December 2002]

***

Starring: Machauley Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, and Catherine O' Hara.

The same boy who was accidentally left Home Alone a year ago, accidentally takes the wrong flight. Instead of arriving in Miami with the rest of his family, he arrives in New York! The same two robbers that failed to rob his house last time, coincidentally arrive in New York to rob another place! What a small, freakin' world.

The movie has the same number of slapstick humor and the same amount of fun, so this should be a holiday treat.

Carbon copy lacks the wistful appeal of the original...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 25 December 2010]

MACAULAY CULKIN is back again as the little lost boy who seems to have the ability to lose his parents at airports in HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK. While the plot fails to be as engaging as the original, a big asset is all of the New York location photography that gives us great glimpses of the big city for an added dose of realism.

It starts out pretty much the way the original did, with the family planning a Florida vacation and with Kevin pursuing all of them as they make a mad dash through the airport. This time, he doesn't deliberately stay behind--he mistakenly believes he's following a man wearing a coat similar to his father.

But what's really missing are the characters that made HOME ALONE such a treat--and they aren't topped by the bird lady sequence and her friendship with the boy, nor are the bungling exploits of bad guys JOE PESCI and DANIEL STERN as funny, even though they are as clueless as ever in trying to deal with Culkin's nasty pranks.

The violence employed by Culkin gets even nastier this time, which turns out to be a drawback because, after all, this isn't a cartoon where we know no one is really getting hurt.

But in general, the story moves swiftly, the parents' reaction to discovering that he's lost is just as funny (as is their encounter with an official while trying to explain the situation), and the supporting cast does their best to keep things lively. Nice to see EDDIE BRACKEN as a toy store mogul in a huge toy store where a key scene takes place.

Fans of HOME ALONE will no doubt appreciate this sequel, but they aren't likely to be as fond of it as the original--which had a wistful sort of charm totally lacking here.

John Williams' score is a pleasing asset, once again providing a sprightly backdground that gives the film added cheer.

Strike While the Iron Is Hot

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 2 January 2015]

This is the typical Hollywood effort to capitalize quickly on a financial success. It's not that there isn't some fun here, but everything seems much more contrived. Of course, the fact that Kevin is left behind again is the first contrivance. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are now the "Sticky Bandits" and are out of jail. The family is in New York and things begin to fall apart. Of course, what this is really about, is how much abuse one can inflict on the two idiots as they try to pull off a huge heist. Add the elements of their actions affecting poor children and the appearance of the bird lady in Central Park, we have efforts to pull at our heartstrings. Things ring hollow, mainly because the first movie did this well and this one didn't. There is one nice part of this movie and that is the byplay between Culkin and the irrepressible Tim Curry, the receptionist at the Plaza Hotel. I never miss anything Curry is in because he sparkles with evil joy. Watch this movie to see Curry. I have determined I will never invest on minute in Home Alone III.

Christmas Classic in New York

[learningthelingo · 10/10 · 12 January 2010]

Macaulay Culkin – one of the most famous child stars since Shirley Temple – returns as Kevin McAllister in the 1992 nostalgic and sentimental slapstick Christmas classic that has not dated since its original release.

As the sequel of the highest grossing comedy of all time, Home Alone 2 is one of the biggest Christmas films of the 90s. Along with its predecessor, the story is all about Christmas. While the familiar Christmas vacation is shown as chaotic and stressful, it is the essential family element that brings us back to the films main themes of togetherness and (paradoxically) independence.

Becoming separated from his family once again when leaving for a Christmas holiday, Kevin is left alone to his own devices, this time in New York City and causes chaos and mayhem when he bumps into the freshly escaped "Wet Bandits", who are once again, out to get him.

The original cast return with Culkin in the lead, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the hilariously dumb, yet slightly endearing criminals with a heart of coal and the fantastic Catherine O'Hara as the mum every child wants, played with just the right amount of fear, guilt, determination and love that is needed. Another noteworthy return is the sequel of gangster spoof Angels with Filthy Souls, Angels with Even Filthier Souls (a reminiscent construction of Angels with Dirty Faces with James Cagney.) New characters are brought to life by Tim Curry, Brenda Fricker, Eddie Bracken, Dana Ivey and a young Rob Schneider.

Film critics such as Roger Ebert gave the film negative reviews and saw it as portraying violence as too cartoonish. Despite this fact, the mainstream popularity of the film saw it as a success and to most children of the 90s, the second instalment in the Home Alone series is often seen as equal in quality if not better than the first.

This film has been monumental in my life. I cannot remember how I first saw it, but I know that thanks to VHS I watched it a million times. It formed my quintessential idea of New York by using Central Park, Carnegie Hall and the Plaza Hotel as central plot settings. It is as much a Christmas film as it is a New York City film and this familiar touristy promotion shows New York as being a unique "White Christmas" town.

So in the cheery Christmas words of Johnny the Crook from Angels: Merry Christmas you filthy animal…and a Happy New Year.

More of the same.

[sgmi-53579 · 6/10 · 29 December 2022]

So you loved Home Alone. It's an acknowledged classic of it's era, and a holiday evergreen. One year later, we return to the battling McAllister family as they head on vacation to Florida. There's one problem; Kevin's in New York. Once again getting his wish to be away from his family, adventure ensues. Penned by the great John Hughes, there is much to enjoy, but it also feels so familiar. Therein lies the problem, the inevitable comparison. The ideas no longer new, after two hours it begins to wear thin. Some truly inspired comedy (the brick scene(, but everyone seems a little tired of the roles kudos to Catherine O'Hara for still delivering on her big scenes. Kids of this era will want to view, but the original is so fresh and fun, it would be hard to recommend to anyone outside of die hard fans, or those who love sequels. Somewhere in the middle.

Prolonged torture = LOL

[Chromium_five · 2/10 · 14 September 2006]

This movie does not work.

Making a movie featuring over-the-top cartoon violence CAN work, but only if you never slip out of cartoon mode. A part drama/part cartoon is not going to work. You can't, for example, make a scene with a little kid having a touching conversation with a lonely homeless woman and immediately follow it up with wacky cartoon antics. When you do that, your movie stops being funny and becomes extremely disturbing.

In the first "Home Alone," Kevin only seemed interested in maiming the villains; in this one he is apparently trying to kill them. Case in point: the scene where he is throwing bricks at Marv's head. Not dropping them, but actually THROWING them at the guy's face. From this point on Kevin turns into some sort of demon child on par with the kid from "Pet Sematary" as he tries burning, electrocuting, and cracking open the skulls of his victims while shouting things like, "Nice night for a neck injury!" (He actually says that). The thought of a theater full of young children laughing at two men being brutally tortured for half an hour really creeps me out.

The only possible reason to watch this is for Tim Curry, one of the world's greatest actors and who steals every scene he's in, but otherwise it's a waste of time.

Great sequel

[FlikJedi719 · 9/10 · 3 January 2020]

This is one of the few times the sequel is better than the original. A classic Christmas movie. The house traps at the end are much better than the first movie too. And who doesn't love Harry and Marv?

Final grade: 9/10 ya filthy animal

Smashing hit sequel !!!

[elo-equipamentos · 7/10 · 26 April 2019]

How Hollywood knows handling ours feelings in this compelling story, apart being a sequel the same success formula was applied here, the casting had a improvement with news characters as Tim Curry as a snooper, Rob Schneider as tip-man and Brenda Friecker as homeless pigeons lady, without forget Eddie Bracken as a lovely the toy shop's owner, the clumsy couple Pesci-Stern in another remarkable performances, In special way Stern who has no enough brain, Culkin a fabulous wonder boy on the crest of a wave in a another flawless acting again, Columbus & Hughes replicated the usual elements to got the same level as the original, end up a smashing box office, About Culkin I would like to say about a curse that pursuit all golden children, they never got any succsses after they grow up unfortunatelly!!

Resume:

First watch: 1998 / How many: 3 / Source: Cable TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5

New York City-The Perfect Place For A Kid To Have Fun

[Big Movie Fan · 18 November 2002]

If I was a young child and wanted to get lost somewhere, then the Big Apple would be my first choice. Yes, Macauley Culkin is back as Kevin McCallister who ends up getting split up from his parents and finds himself lost in New York.

Just like in the first film, Kevin has fun at first booking himself into a hotel (you'll find out how a young kid cons a room in the hotel) and has some fun. There's just one snag-Joe Pesci and Daniel Sterns are back as Harry and Marv and once again, young Kevin must outwit them.

The plot is pretty similar to Home Alone but don't let that put you off-it just means you've got more of the same thrills and fun to enjoy. Despite being lost in the city that never sleeps, Kevin again manages to find ways to outwit the relentless burglars who take countless bumps and bruises, many of which would have killed them but that's the fun of movies.

Yes, Home Alone 2 was a fantastic follow up to Home Alone and it was followed by the equally excellent Home Alone 3.

Fun Slapstick

[jordyntsmith · 7/10 · 21 December 2020]

I generally enjoy deeper movies with more drama, but this is one of the few slapstick comedies I find true enjoyment in. It is just corny enough, silly enough, and heart-felt enough to enjoy! Everything comes together so well!

Solid Fun.............

[owenpont-70803 · 7/10 · 28 December 2022]

This is the one Home Alone sequel I can ever see anyone give a positive review for. To me I thought while quite a rehash of the first film in pretty much every way, Home Alone 2 Lost In New York provided me with what I wanted in a sequel for this franchise. The main character being once agian abandoned by his family then getting into mischief in New York by himself and eventually beating up some bad guys. The one thing that bothers me is the beginning as this film so closely follows the first in how it's done that it comes off extremely lazy. So while I did have fun and enjoy this film, I wish it didn't take so much from the first film. Overall though it's a fun film and if you are a fan of the first Home Alone, you will like the sequel.

I knew it was you, I could SMELL ya getting' off the elevata

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 9/10 · 7 May 2004]

Too many sequels suffer from Deja Vu, and hardly any of those carbon copies improve upon the original. Home Alone 2 is a carbon copy, but it's also much better and more complex a movie than the first. In another mad rush to the airport the McCallisters make a point of remembering Kevin this time, but he gets lost in a crowd at the airport and follows a man who looks like his dad onto the wrong plane. Thirteen of the McCallisters are going to Miami for Xmas (do they never stay at home?) but Kevin is headed for the Big Apple, and he's going to have that once-in-a-lifetime vacation he's been wishing for.

There's much more for Kevin to see and do in New York. He scams his way into the Plaza hotel where a suspicious Concierge (Tim Curry) gives him mighty evil looks at every encounter. He goes to Duncan's Toy Chest, the biggest toy store in town and takes many scenic photographs. Though it is a little unnerving now seeing Kevin on the roof of the World Trade Centre.

But the Wet Bandits have escaped, and they have just arrived in New York with loftier ambitions and bigger heists to pull off. They even brush by Kevin a few times not knowing he's there. Typically though, once they get a hold of him the give away far too much info. Once Kevin escapes he takes matters into his own hands once more. His Aunt Georgette from the first movie is still in Paris so he uses her half-renovated home as a huge mousetrap for the bungling burglars.

The booby traps this time are much more painful and nasty, so it's all the more amusing for us. Who can possibly fail to laugh at Marv getting the shock of his life when he tries to turn on the taps? If the movie were to be released now I doubt if it would be let away with a PG rating. Still, it's nothing for any parents to worry about. Unless you fear your child is going to set your head on fire with a blowtorch.

Home Alone 2 has a more satisfying climax than the first. The film doesn't simply end once Harry and Marv are back in the slammer as there is more plot to it than that. Brenda Fricker has a (rather questionable) role as 'The Pigeon Lady' a woman who lives in Central Park and talks to no one-until Kevin reaches out. Plus Eddie Bracken shows up as Mr. Duncan and gives Kevin the best Christmas morning ever as a token of his appreciation.

With a bigger story (okay, some of it re-used) and more characters and a better playground for Kevin, Home Alone 2 manages to be a superior sequel. While not excessively so. There's loads of fun to be had in Kevin's antics, and Tim Curry is downright brilliant as the mischievous Concierge.

It's a great movie on it's own but sadly it will always be called a copycat. Watch it now from a fresh perspective and you might like it more.

Had good momentum but then he had to go find a house

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 30 November 2013]

Macaulay Culkin is still cute one year later. This time Kevin gets on the wrong plane. He goes to New York and his family to Miami. Kevin is alone in the big city. With his father's money, he books into the Plaza. He must outsmart the suspicious concierge Tim Curry. Then he runs into The Wet Bandits (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) once again.

I'm willing to accept the Wet Bandits to return in this sequel. It makes no sense, but that's not the biggest obstacle. The biggest obstacle is the repeat of the first movie. I don't understand why they feel the need to copy. They had a fun setting in the hotel. It would be so much more interesting to have the hijinx there. Kevin pulls a funny fast one on the concierge. The movie needs more of that. Imagine if Kevin had to outsmart all three of them at the same time. That would be a much better sequel.

SUCH A GREAT SEQUEL!!!!

[dockerykelli · 10/10 · 6 July 2019]

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York was excellent & shot beautifully. It brought back everything that happened in the first film. The same actors portrayed their roles wonderfully. A TERRIFIC storyline. It has laughter throughout the movie, love, thrilling moment and also blossoming friendships. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE TO ANYONE!!!!! A++ Film.

Two grown-men trying to murder a 10-year old self-development guru

[Ruskington · 3/10 · 13 April 2020]

While the original is rightly considered an all-time classic family film, the sequel is nothing more than a lazy cash-grab. It staggers me that John Hughes could just rewrite the exact same story and think it would be acceptable. The only significant difference from the original is that the main characters become even more slapstick and many scenes are just plain stupid as a result. It's a shame to see great actors like Catherine O'Hara and Joe Pesci reduced to this.

Culkin is still very cute and likeable but his character is so unbelievably corny in this movie that it makes some of his scenes painful to watch. Many of his lines feel like they were taken from a cheap self-help book or a fortune cookie. His scenes with Marley in the original were moving and authentic; his scenes with Brenda Fricker aka Pigeon Lady are just forced and contrived. Speaking of Pigeon Lady, surely they could have at least tried to make her resemble an actual homeless person? She looks like a well-fed piano teacher from Surrey.

I really wish I hadn't watched this movie; it's such a shame when these dreadful sequels take the gloss off a great film. It's only Culkin who prevents me giving this a basement rating.