Home Sweet Home Alone is the best from the franchise since the first two!
Home Sweet Home Alone is an all-new adventure comedy from the beloved holiday film franchise with blockbuster hits and major misses. It is now streaming on Disney+ and stars Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, Archie Yates, and Kenan Thompson. For those wondering, it is canon to the original two.
Synopsis
Max Mercer is a mischievous and resourceful young boy who has been left behind while his family is in Japan for the holidays. So when a married couple attempting to retrieve a priceless heirloom set their sights on the Mercer family’s Home, it is up to Max to protect it from the trespassers…and he will do whatever it takes to keep them out. Hilarious hijinks of epic proportions ensue, but despite the absolute chaos, Max comes to realize that there really is no place like home sweet home.
Archie Yates plays Max, who is left alone at home when his family goes to Japan and forgets all about him. If you loved him in Jojo Rabbit then you will really enjoy his performance in this film. The “burglars” this time around have sympathetic motives and are played hysterically by Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney. The traps they have to endure are definitely more painful than ever but not as memorable as the original.
The fact that this film is canon to the Macaulay Culkin films is what makes this movie a joy to watch. This new version will be accepted by fans of the franchise. Even though Kevin McCallister does not appear, we learn that he started his own McCallister Security company. We do get his older bully of a brother Buzz McCallister who is now the local cop ironically. Take the fan service away, and you get a Home Alone film close to the original. It uses a very similar plot, word-for-word lines in some cases, and replicated scenes with a mild twist.
Verdict
I give Home Sweet Home Alone a 7.5 out of 10. Nevertheless, it is an excellent addition to the Disney+ library in time for the Holidays. Luckily, you can also watch the original two Home Alone films on the streaming platform.
Watch more Trailers on Nerdtropolis.
Get Disney+.
Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.