Christmas Movie #11: Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

Some sequels feel truly necessary. They feel like a continuation of a story that simply couldn't be contained in just one film. Think of 'The Godfather' or Christopher Nolan's Batman films. 

Then there's 'Home Alone'. After Kevin McCallister tortured his hapless burglar foe (like a mini Jack Bauer) in the first film there really wasn't much else to say.

But say more they did. And, as much as I would love to criticise 'Home Alone 2' for it's laziness and lack of ambition, I can't. I just love it too much. 

Unlike say 'The Hangover' shit-quels, which I never really like first time round, I can watch a sequel that is practically a remake of the original because the first is such a joy.

The main, and really only, change from the first one, is that now, through several (and I mean several) contrivances, Kevin ends up in New York. The set up is so ridiculous that's it's admirable. Beyond that, it's business as usual so just for fun lets list some of the things that happen in both films:

• Kevin is cruelly (in a way that can only be described as child abuse-y) ostrasized by his family
• Kevin uses audio from a gangster film to get himself out of trouble
• Kevin rises his eyebrows in a cheeky way
• The family (so rich that missing a flight is clearly not a big thing for them) sleep in when they've got a flight to catch
• Kevin meets a social misfit he eventually finds out is very nice (this time it's a crazy old pigeon lady who looks like a cross between the 'feed the birds' lady from Mary Poppins and that lady at a wedding who's been single her whole life)
• Kevin tortures the same two hapless crooks with as many improvised weapons as he can. Just to say I'm sure they used improvised weapons in the CIA.
• Kevin's Mum shouts 'KEVIN!' and we all laugh

But still despite knowing all this is coming, I still love 'Home Alone 2'. No films in modern times have got slapstick quite as right. It may be surprisingly brutal, but to someone who always thinks comedy should be it bit cruel it suits my evil streak.

And if that wasn't enough, brace yourselves, FRANK N FURTER IS IN IT!

Yes, everytime I watch it, I forget that about half hour in, there is Tim Curry. Just being Tim Curry. And Tim Curry being Tim Curry is what all Christmasses should be about.