Even after three decades, the original two Home Alone films are still regarded as classic Christmas films. For many families, it's almost become a tradition to gather 'round the TV and watch these movies during the holiday season.
While the breakthrough from '90 established a formula, Chris Columbus and John Hughes build on it with the sequel, dialing up the wackiness and upping the ante with regards to the trademark traps and slapstick. Though there's much to appreciate about this New York-based sequel, it's tough to deny that it's got moments that are often even more implausible, odd, or confusing than its predecessor. Let's explore ten of the most nonsensical.
Given the apparent wealth of the McCallisters, one would think that they would have secured some nicer, more lavish lodgings than a simple and rather shoddy looking motel. " It's somewhat ironic that the "Villa De Dolphine" is actually a pretty significant step down from their own house.
Between the weather and the fancy Plaza Hotel accommodations, Kevin sure gets the better end of the deal here - at least if we're disregarding the Sticky Bandits fiasco.
Sure, one can argue that the pre-9/11 era of Home Alone 2 would mean a relative lack of security and organization at airports compared to now. Still, it's hard to imagine not one, but multiple airline employees failing to properly attend to Kevin's separation mishap - especially given the trouble they'd be in if something bad happened.
Apparently, though, the vague assurance of a ten-year-old that he spots his dad is enough to squelch any concerns or responsibility from the staff. And a clear look of shock after being told he's in the wrong city doesn't raise any red flags. Kevin then runs into more naive adults, as he's able to check into a major hotel on his own - but that's another story.
Many have pointed to Home Alone 2 as sort of an extended ad for the then-new "Talkboy," a handheld voice recorder and sound manipulator. So it makes sense that the kid's toy would be made to seem more useful or sophisticated than it really was. Still, after hearing Kevin make a hotel reservation using its voice manipulator, it's pretty clear the exaggerated deep tone wouldn't likely fool many adults.
Not only does the receptionist accept the brief request without hesitation, but she follows up on almost no details or questions. Of course, she does mention he'll need a credit card, and the shrewd Kevin just happens to have a recorded response ready.
Kevin's New York-based relatives must have been in for quite the surprise upon returning to their once-vacant townhome, which, in a cruel irony, was supposed to be renovated. Oh - Kevin managed to help renovate it alright! Just not in the way his aunt and uncle intended...
Obviously, a Home Alone movie needs a setting where Kevin can go hog-wild with his traps, and even moreso than the first go-round. Still, it's tough to conceive of him completely trashing the place without any apparent regard for the occupants, who happen to be his own family.
Buzz can be likened to that schoolyard bully - who in this case, also happens to be the older brother of the film's lead. While his childish antics in the first Home Alone are small enough to be believable, he goes above and beyond this time...
During a choir performance at school, he proceeds to humiliate the kid in front of dozens of students and onlooking parents alike. This prompts Kevin to shove him, which implausibly leads to a human domino effect of every single kid tumbling over. But what do Mr. and Mrs. McCallister do? After promptly accepting Buzz's disingenuous "apology," they reprimand the victim - just like the first film.
Just like the first film, Kevin befriends a sort of "lone wolf" adult who initially looks to be intimidating. And just like the stoic Marley, Kevin's new acquaintance - a pigeon-loving homeless woman - refuses to speak to him early on. This despite the fact that she makes it pretty clear that she seeks companionship and someone to talk to.
As was the case with Kevin's neighbor, this silent treatment and somewhat creepy stare only serves to make Kevin more apprehensive and run away.
It makes sense to suspend a level of disbelief, especially when it comes to a film largely tailored towards kids. Yet, there comes a point where the implausibility reaches heights that raise an eyebrow and even take some out of the movie.
For many, Kevin's highly-unlikely clash with Harry and Marv yet again fits the bill here. These crooks managed to escape prison, which is farfetched enough given their lack of wit. Not only this, but they also happen to be at the exact same part of the same city - at precisely the day the young vacationer arrives. It's a "needle in a haystack" scenario to say the least, and this needle gets found multiple times in the movie.
It's true that technology and communications weren't quite what they are now compared to three decades ago. Still, the falsely-tagged stolen credit card of Kevin's father is a bit of a headscratcher. The notion is that his parents reported the card as "stolen" to flag its usage and thus pinpoint his location. But surely even in 1992, there'd have been a means to trace this data without falsely branding it as being snatched up or lost.
One would think Peter and Kate must have known that - at least in the short term - this would likely cause some problems for the lone lad.
In the first Home Alone, Kevin shying away from adult help can be somewhat explained, given that we're talking about a younger, frightened child with no phone service and few neighbors around to assist him. But in this film? There are people everywhere. Who better to call in this potentially-dangerous situation than the cops? Granted, he does draw their attention at the tail end of the film, but why wait so long?
At the very least, he could have gotten the attention of one of the literally hundreds of civilians walking the streets of New York. At one point, he even runs right through a huge crowd of people as he's running from the Sticky Bandits.
Even many fans of this film have critiqued the fact that Kevin's array of traps - most of which are more deadly than the first film - barely seem to make a dent. Oh, they certainly leave their marks on a visual level, as there are trappings of paint splotches, brick imprints, and burn marks adorning the Bandits.
But all too often, the crooks manage to quickly recover from things like a brick being lobbed from several stories and a seemingly lethal dose of electrocution.
