"Remember, last time we under estimated that little bundle of misery." - Harry, the bandit
This is one of the few Christmas movies to have made a sequel. And fortunately it is the only one to be just as successful as the original. If it weren't for Macaulay Culkin agreeing to play Kevin again, this movie may not have been made. Five years later they ended up making a couple of more sequels without Culkin, which ended up being duds, of course.
Home Alone 2 came out in 1992 to bring us further along on a McCallister family tradition-
losing Kevin, only this time it's in New York. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern continue their antics too, reprising their roles as the Wet Bandits, but now known as the Sticky Bandits.
So, just one Christmas after leaving Kevin home alone for the holidays, it couldn't possibly happen again could it? At least this time Kevin actually makes it to the airport with his family, who are running late to catch their flight to Miami. It is within the hustle and bustle of the busiest time of year for air travel in Chicago's O'Hare airport, where Kevin and his family get separated. Kevin lands on a plane for New York while his family is jetting off to palm trees and sunshine.
It is at the luggage carousel in Miami's airport where the McCallister's suddenly realize who's missing...
"We did it again!", Kevin's mom exclaims, before passing out.
Kevin in the meantime, realizes he is on the wrong plane, but take's quite delight in the fact he is somewhere else.
"Who wants to spend Christmas in a tropical climate anyways."
What I loved about first watching this film, and still do, is following Kevin around the big city of New York at Christmastime. All of the Christmas lights, decorated window displays, the Christmas trees all lit up, and the magical sound of Christmas bells jingling in the cold air. Kevin carries with him a Christmas spirit we even encounter in the first film; a Christmas spirit his own family doesn't acknowledge. His family would rather spend Christmas somewhere else than at home gathered around the Christmas tree.
Even when finding himself either left at home or left somewhere other than with his parents, the money God's are always with him. This time around Kevin happened to be carrying his father's bag which contained his dad's wallet with cash and credit cards. A wad of cash and credit cards to a kid in New York City? Where are you going to go? Why, to only the grandest most luxurious place in
New York, the celebrity ding-dang-dong of hotels The Plaza.
Kevin finds a way to squirm his way through the hotel desk clerk with his father's credit card and checks into a hotel suite. But falls under the suspicion of the hotel concierge, played by Tim Curry who at one point in the film is displayed as a complete look-a-like to the Grinch. One of the humorous bits between Kevin and the hotel concierge happens in Kevin's suite. Tim Curry's character Mr. Hector sneaks into the room to see if Kevin's story of why he is alone is true. Kevin is already aware and plants an inflatable Bozo in the shower disguised as his dad, using his Talkboy recording device to pretend his dad is singing in the shower. This humiliates Mr. Hector who gets caught by Kevin and is now at the mercy of Kevin and will do anything the kid wants. Kevin is catered to a limo and cheese pizza to see the sights of New York on Christmas Eve.
Again, this is another Christmas film I enjoy because of the relationships that are built:
Kevin bonds with a philanthropic toy store owner, Mr. Duncan, who is donating all of his Christmas Eve sales to a childrens hospital. Kevin even donates $20 of his father's money to help the kids.
Kevin would eventually save Mr. Duncan's toy store from the notorious Wet Bandits, who have broken out of prison and now call themselves The Sticky Bandits. Of course, how could there not be a Home Alone sequel without Kevin dueling it out and recharging his inventive pranks in stopping the crooks from stealing from good people.
Kevin also finds himself befriending a homeless woman in Central Park, known as the Pigeon Lady.
The two of them share hot chocolate in the attic of Carnegie Hall as they listen to the Philharmonic Orchestra. Kevin learns the Pigeon Lady had her heart broken in the past and is afraid to let anyone in. Kevin gives her some sound advice,
"If your not gonna use your heart, why worry about it getting broken?"
Of course, the end of this film unites Kevin with his mother and family. But more importantly Kevin has inspired confidence in the Pigeon Lady to not be afraid to take a step forward in befriending others. For when we open our hearts toward others we are opening up a greater gift, one of friendship.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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