You can mess with a lot of things, but you can't mess with kids on Christmas.

Hello I am the movie encyclopedia and if no one else will see it, I will.

Did I accidently pop in the deleted scenes for Home Alone? Seriously did they have like an alternate ending involving New York? Is this deja vu? Seriously I am really confused. Wait this is a sequel? Arent sequels supposed to be the same but at least a LITTLE different. Honestly I dont even need to explain the plot to this one. But as my duty as a small online film critic followed by a small cult following I must review this and I must try to discern the second movie from the first.

The plots the same. The idea "Second verse same as the first" comes to mind. Kevin McCallister is a young boy whose entire family consists of narcsisistic, nihilstic, superficial, greedy douchebags who could care less about their son. Honestly they treat him like the black sheep. Well this time they ACTUALLY remember to take Kevin to the airport (gee I guess they learned) but in a totally recycled scene from the first movie and rifled with "NOT AGAIN"s they are late to the airport and make a mad dash for their terminal leaving their unloved child to wander around until he accidently boards on a plane to New York. There he breaks into a hotel where Tim Curry runs it (THE ONLY REALLY GOOD PART) but its ruined once he's kicked out. And wouldnt you guess it...Marvin and Harry are released from prison and after Kevin.

The weird thing though is that everything is WAAY to cartoonish and has a real sadistic side to it. You would think that it was an PG-13 film where two guys were trying to destroy a child. But oh well everything works out and Christmas is saved and everyone learns a valuable lesson.

I guess I cant knock this movie too much but it IS more of just the same. I guess if you liked the original and since its the last movie to include the original cast its really not that bad but the first and third are MUCH MUCH better. Still its a decent entry and a good enough Christmas movie.
By the way....brick to the face...


MY VERDICT: RENT IT

Keep the change, you filthy animal.

Its the most wonderful time of the year. Hello I am the movie encyclopedia and if no one else will see it, I will.

When we think about Christmas classics its easy just to think about the ones Ive mentioned to death:the Bass/Renkin specials and Its A Wonderful Life. But, in my own personal opinion, one of my favorite movies to watch around Christmas time, and one I make an effort to watch once a year is Home Alone. Actually I tend to find myself watching all four of them every Christmas but this is the best out of all of them.

Iconic for Macaulay Culkin's smart assiness, clever traps, sharp wit and of course the face, Home Alone has not only become a major staple of Christmas movies but also a major staple of kids movies in general. Its ultimately heartwarming, charming in its innocence and forever beloved and ripped off by many filmmakers and critics alike.

The story (which is recycled for the next three movies) is about Kevin. He has it rough. His brother is a jerk to him and his parents really don't seem to give a crap about him. The other members of his family are nihilistic, narcissistic, superficial and could care less about little Kevin. He is the unexplained black sheep of the family. Well the family decides to take a trip out of state and in the rush to beat the Christmas rush they leave in a flurry and leave one thing behind: Kevin. By the time they realize this they are already in the air. Kevin, taking advantage of his newfound freedom thinks everything is hunky dory. He's a smart kid so he knows how to get what he wants. But when a two man group of robbers decides they want to rob the house and take them for all they got, its up to Kevin to stop them.

This ensues

Its physical comedy at its most innocent and quite honestly at its finest. All the characters, especially Marv and Harry are well thought out and provide good laughs. And of course in the end it has a great moral and good family values.

I have to applaud Chris Columbus and John Hughes (RIP) on their great colaboration together and definetly have to say that this is one of my favorite movies growing up. Sure, in my opinion, it stumbles in the sequel only to get up for the third and then get shot in the face by four, but the Home Alone series will always be a well known Christmas/Holiday tradition for years to come.

MY VERDICT: OWN IT

Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have f****d with? That's me.

Hello I am the movie encyclopedia and if no one else will see it, I will.

I was once asked if I could have the career of any celebrity in Hollywood who would it be? My answer came out of my mouth quicker than anything else: Clint Eastwood. The person who asked me looked at me funny and said "Really? Why not your favorite actor Ed Norton or Donald Trump or Bill Gates or Angelina Jolie (for obvious reasons I guess)?" I shook my head and said "Have you seen this guy's career? Clint Eastwood is one of the best directors in the buisness right now, he's a multi award winning actor/director/writer, he has composed and written music for his movies, holds the most memorable catchphrases of any actor and his name is synominous with BAD ASSNESS, just by being himself. Who wouldn't want that career?"

And its true. Clint is a shining example of Hollywood. He's in his late 70s and he still looks great and could still probably beat me up. His IMDB list is a mile long and he's done it by playing the same character over and over. Now don't boo me for that. He really has. Clint Eastwood has played the same character for 40 years. Angry guy with a soft heart that's hard to get to. Nowadays its Angry, crotchety old man with a soft heart that's hard to get to but its still the same. And everytime its still totally awesome!

His latest movie before Invictus was Gran Torino, a movie SO racist, SO funny, SO BADASS that it blew my mind. Walt Kowalski is a war vetran whose wife just died. He's grumpy, he hates everyone and he has a big shotgun in his garage. Now that the love of his life is gone he has only two things left: his dog Daisy and his Gran Torino. But when his neighbors, an Asian family, is being terrorized by a gang of misfits, he stands up for them and breaks the racial barriors he once had.

Its that kind of film that does a lot without doing much. The religious undertones, the social and economic undertones and the racial coming togetherness through adversity are very well done in this film. Its by far one of the most racist films Ive seen in a while but it does this for art. Clint is a man who grew up with the N word and other racial slurs being acceptable and tolerated. In the 2000s now it seems overly racist but its showing a real life scenario of a people that are still around. But Walt always means well, even if he's not touchy feely, as evidence by his love for his dog Daisy. This movie is ripe with subtlety and its for the best.

Clint is Clint in this movie. You either love him or 95% of America will beat you up. He's a classic American Icon with a brilliant eye for film. Its also nice to see him in front of the camera which he hadnt done since Million Dollar Baby. Everyone else in the movie is great too but of course is overshadowed by Clint. I will say however the character of Toad was quite enjoyable to watch.

Overall its a great film, with great lines, great subtle nuances and its a Clint Eastwood film. That should sell itself.

MY VERDICT: OWN IT