I have some spare time today, so I thought I'd write a review! I won't be doing a book review though, because I really haven't had a ton of time to read, especially holiday books. I'm going to be doing a movie review instead, cuz that's what we're watching in our house.
We spent last week watching the Home Alone series, and while I haven't reviewed the first three films yet, this one is just too goofy to not review!
As always, this review will have spoilers, including spoilers of the first three films, cuz yeah, gonna have to mention those as well :P
So, here we go!
Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House
~Released: November 3rd, 2002
~Length: 89 Minutes
~Director: Rod Daniel
~Lead Actors: French Stewart, Erick Avari, Missi Pyle, Jason Beghe, Clare Carey, Joanna Going, Barbara Babcock
~Genres: Crime, Comedy, Family
Kevin McCallister's parents have split up. Now living with his mom, he decides to spend Christmas with his dad at the mansion of his father's rich girlfriend, Natalie. Meanwhile robber Marv Merchants, one of the villains from the first two movies, partners up with a new criminal named Vera to hit Natalie's mansion.
The first Home Alone film seems to be impossible to match. As legendary as it seemed to be, this one tanked. The only good thing that comes to mind, is the fact that it balances out the first one - the bad balances out the good.
The main thing that irritated me about this film, is the fact they used all the same characters, with completely different actors. That's a pet peeve of mine - I can't stand replacement actors! Kevin's story ended a while ago, after the first two films. The third film had a whole new kid, new family, new city, new everything. That's how you keep a series like this going.
The thing that makes it so irritating, is the fact that the characters from the first film came back for the second, and were all so memorable. They've become nearly iconic for the holiday season, and replacing them with new actors is nearly impossible. We hear the same names, but the people don't match. It's just insulting.
The second thing that irritated me, was the fact it just wasn't all that funny. It's a dumbed down kid's movie, which is insulting, considering the first two weren't. If they're going to start up Kevin's story again, they should keep the humor and intellect on the same level. The immature, ridiculous jokes are almost more insulting than the replacement actors.
The only reason I gave it two roses instead of one, is the fact the new character of Prescott was played by the amazing Erick Avari. It wasn't a character pulled from the original plot or cast, and was therefore, new and fresh. Mr. Avari did a wonderful job, as he always seems to, and succeeded in making me laugh.
I was truly glad when the movie ended, and don't plan to watch it again. If you're a die-hard fan of the series, or have young children who aren't capable of hoping for or expecting actual good entertainment, this film would be a decent choice. Hopefully this will be the last film in the series, because they just keep getting worse, and I fear what they'd come up with for a fifth.
Please feel free to let me know what you think of this review, film, or anything else!
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