FilmSnobReviews

Title: Home Sweet Home Alone
MPAA Rating: R for excessive violence and child abuse
Director: Dan Mazer
Starring: Archie Yates, Aisling Bea, Rob Delaney, Devin Ratray
Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins (felt like eternity)

What It Is: Home Alone, again.

What We Think: “I don’t know why they’re always trying to remake the classics…”, a line uttered in this picture that will perfectly answer the perplexing question of “should I watch the new Home Alone movie?”. I really try to go in with an open mind to these types of movies, and with Home Sweet Home Alone, never have I fought harder against my own thoughts – trying to go down every possible avenue as to how this would be enjoyable to an audience member. Granted, there are some minor parts of it that are decent – some of the performances are alright and the comedic moments definitely deserve a laugh or two.

Unfortunately though, what this movie accomplishes best is reminding me that the original Home Alone exists, and how much I’m going to enjoy revisiting it this Christmas.

Now, with that being said, I’m not going to base my entire review comparing this one to the classic, because that would be unfair. Clearly, there is some ounce of work put into the production and for the cast and crew, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that this must’ve been fun to film on set. Sadly, it’s not so fun for everyone else. It’s not even really the movie I’m upset with – it’s the decision to make it that baffles me! Never had I audibly said “why?” during a film – there’s a surprising amount of absurdity in Home Sweet Home Alone that makes it one the most pointless movies I have ever seen. There are countless comedic misfires, miscellaneous references to past films (with a certain cameo that made me cringe), and boring, mind numbing writing.

The main character is written so poorly – any emotional connection whatsoever is non-existent thanks to his obnoxious nature, and as for the remaining character, never have I seen such carelessness put into simple logic. The supporting characters, who are 2% more compelling than our main character, are about to lose their house for a couple hundred dollars – yet it’s shown that they have a rich relative, shown as such through excessive buying and showing up with massive bags of presents. Yet, they’d rather go to more extreme measures, such as breaking into a house. Oh, how realism flies out the window. The little positives I had are swiftly crushed by the massive amount of negatives, almost as if some exterior force were using painful house traps on the movie’s substance and presentation.

Our Grade: F+; Home Sweet Home Alone is a delightful mess and a cheery catastrophe. A movie that, unlike it’s predecessor, will be swiftly forgotten by Christmas Eve this year. I’d say better luck next time, but don’t let there be a next time anytime soon.