Christmas Vacation Calamity

Rating: 8/10 (22 November 2019)

This is another of my favorite sequels, childhood gems and an honorable mention in favorite Christmas films. I remember seeing this in the theater, to me it was one of the best times I ever had in the theater as it was just a festival of up roaring laughter. Yeah, it's true this sequel doesn't surpass the original, but I don't feel it's trying to, and yes it's not perfect but it has it where it counts because like with the original it sets itself out for what it wants to be holiday fun.
What I like about the sequel is it has sort of an adventurous feel to it, as we see Kevin is out of his comfort zone and is in a fascinating but strange land. Once again there is sort of that wish fulfilment fantasy tale, as we as kids and even adults have dreamed of having that perfect Christmas vacation someplace, we want and having the time of our life our way. Like seeing Kevin ordering room service eating Triple Scooped ice cream sundae and he says one of my favorite lines, "make it triple, I'm not driving" wonder if any kids or adults thought about saying that whenever they ordered ice cream for room service, on a side note, would love to try that hotel's ice cream.
We see Kevin once again watching a sequel (ironically) to that gangster film from the first movie. It's just hilarious as we see once again Johnny whom as usual has an explosive temper. He says another favorite quote, "I believe you, but my Tommy Gun don't!" damn this guy has serious anger management issues. On a side note, there were some other R rated films Kevin saw that were stacked up beside the one he is watching, shame there wasn't a scene or two to see what those films are.
I really like that we get to see some of New York if not a whole lot which is one little weak point of the film. From that hotel which is a real hotel I'd someday like to find so I can visit the location of where the film was filmed. We even see him go to a place called Dunkins Toy Chest which is nice looking, though the place has no toys nor even a video game department, it looks more like a "Hallmark" store which is weird; Kevin should've requested "Toys R Us", damn I miss that place in fact toy stores in general.
Music is good there is the same memorable score by John Williams and some new track one song I really like that's became a Christmas favorites are "Christmas Tree" (the version where Buzz didn't frak things up) and "Distant Goodnights" which I'll admit really has a sweet but sorrowful feel. There is one scene that is a bit of a heartstring pull as both Kevin and his mom say good night to each other from a distance, it reminds us and Kevin despite all the fun and games, he's still unhappy deep down and misses his family just as his mom feels guilt once again bears the burden of guilt and misses him.
Characters are good, Kevin as usual is Kevin whom to me is the master trickster. Once again, he's on the sympathetic side as he can never seem to catch a break with his family. He once again gets punished for something he really isn't guilty of. Buzz (somedays I really hate that guy) whom as usual is being a idiot decided to play a prank on Kevin in the entire school. Personally after that stunt, if I was the director of that production I would kick Buzz out, you pull crap like that in every production you don't get to perform and seriously McCallister family stop being so leanant toward Buzz that's probably what lead him to doing stupid crap in the first place; sorry this sounded bold but I had to get that out. And once again Karma is on Kevin's side as he gets to have the time of his life.
But one thing I really like that Kevin has is the Talk boy, which I thought was cool at the time, this was way before phone app tech. It's basically a tape recorder, but it has a mike and a way to manipulate your voice to sound like an anonymous voice dub. This device no doubt comes in handy for Kevin throughout the film and it would be cool if they made a "Home Alone Talk boy" app where we can recreate those features.
Tim Curry one of my favorite actors is great as the Concierge. He's almost the subordinate villain in film, ok not really, more of just your obstacle. He's a guy that is completely uptight, really wants to run the hotel like a tight ship. But a little on the egocentric side as he really wants to bust Kevin to both keep his hotel intact but also to inflate his ego. It' s just funny the certain reaction he has toward Kevin's trick which crack me up.
The Wet Bandits or Sticky Bandits whichever you prefer, as usual are themselves, they haven't changed as both are still nincompoops. I like the fact that this time they've stepped up their game as their now robbing stores instead of houses. This plan would work if it wasn't for one poison pill in the plan which they're at fault for taking which is a weak point I'll get to latter. But these guys are funny as usual, from their typical back and forth and the spills they rightfully take.
The humor as usual is hilarious just spot one, from another scene with the Concierge and his company when they go to Kevin's room they are once again duped by one of Kevin's tricks as he is playing the Gangster pic loud. I won't give away what happens next you just must see it yourself it's just hilarious.
But of course, down to the final battle which is a physical humor/slapstick comedy fest and even more violent and painful than before. I won't give too much away on that I'll just state a couple of the traps.
The first one is of course the beginning of the battle, where the robbers stupidly think Kevin will corroborate in throwing down the camera and Harry says another of my favorite lines though was common at the time, "I cross my heart and hope to die." I snickered when he said that because it's like he's practically telling Kevin to take him out. And of course, Kevin throws down something toward them, lets just say his Christmas gift to Marv.
Another of course is the electrocution scene which I was just laughing my head off toward, that one is sort of a live action "Looney Tunes" gag. Just hearing Marv's screams was just music to my ears. But we also see his skeleton as he's being shocked. Another that's sort of a Looney Tunes gag is the teeter totter which cracks me up, but it cracks me up even more the fact that Harry wasn't smart enough to get off it immediately, yeah fast one Harry.
But this sequel does miss a trick or two that really holds it back a little for me, I'll just state a few. I don't like how there are some moments of stupidity that I felt could easily have been avoided in the writing. Like that mis boarding scene, I don't like how that was handled. The whole battery thing was stupid and a cheap device, seriously Kevin couldn't wait to get on board to replace his batteries. Personally, it should have been some sort of holiday rush riot where it was not just the McCallister family but every other family and group that was rushing to their planes and somehow Kevin gets lost in that crowd. Let alone the stupidity of the Robbers whom had a good plain and would have succeeded if they just left Kevin alone, which I'll admit is a plot hole.
There are also a few too many coincidences, from the Robbers being in New York the same time Kevin came. Or Kevin's uncle and aunt having a place they were renovating that happens to be in New York. I do believe in coincidences, but this is just too big to swallow. Didn't like the whole gun thing with Harry and Marv, it felt out of place and out of character.
The film doesn't quite bring much new to the table as it has that fundamental problems some sequels have, where it does seem just a bit like the same film in places just dressed differently make the film a tad predictable; though same could be said for certain slasher franchises out there like the "Friday the 13th" films but that didn't make them bad (or not all of them) so I can't complain too much on that.
I honestly didn't care for the bird lady character, she not a bad character but by her nature she really a filler character that I could take or leave but all the same really there to fill in empty space and time much like Harry on "Doctor Who".
If Kevin was suppose of have a secondary character along the way it either should have been one of the members of his family which would have been interesting, it would help shed light as to who that family member is in the multitude of members as well as provide depth on the family but may 'be further the stakes for Kevin as he not just has to protect himself but a member of his family, but it would help make the film a little different sort of like a buddy buddy film, could of also meant extra traps see this other member's tactician skills. I don't know it's a nice thought, anyway, shame it was never considered.
Overall, despite being one of those mixed bag movie/sequels I still had fun with this film which really is most of the time all I can ask for sequels. "Home Alone 2" like any holiday vacation is worth a trip.
Rating: 3 stars