Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Movie review by Colette DeDonato, Common Sense Media
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Sequel takes slapstick shenanigans to NYC.

PG 1992 100 minutes
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 21 reviews

Kids say

age 8+

Based on 93 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that they can expect the same kind of slapstick violence in this second Home Alone movie, mostly against the robbers who picked on the wrong precocious kid once again. The main character throws bricks, sets deadly traps, and more in attempts to stop the bumbling duo and is gleefully proud of himself every time they get hurt. Parents should also know that the movie opens with quite a bit of family conflict and that there's fighting -- even some physical violence -- among siblings. There's a sign for adult films.

Community Reviews

aprim167
aprim167 Adult
April 21, 2022
age 10+

Language

Most of the movie is mild language (shut up, stupid, pervert, ect ). However, the dad does say "damn" and Kevin calls the bad guys "asses".
1 person found this helpful.
Anny40
Anny40 Adult
March 19, 2021
age 5+

Great movie

There isn't too much violence and it is safe for 7 and up. There are really good positive messages and it was hilarious. There is only one violent scene in which the kid is throwing bricks on the robbers. But they don't get too badly hurt. Otherwise there is no violence. It is a great family movie. It is very funny. The main charecter in this story is a great role model.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 21 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Here we go again. Kevin McAllister already got left Home Alone one Christmas; now he's on the wrong plane and headed to New York City while his family jets off to Miami for the holiday. Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), once again happy to be free of his boisterous family, sets out on an adventure in the big city. His father's credit card rents him a suite at the Plaza Hotel. Slapstick moments are provided by run-ins with the original movie's goofball villains, Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, respectively). The duo has escaped from prison and is planning to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve -- and Kevin's determined to stop them. Finally, Mom (Catherine O'Hara) realizes that her son's missing and frantically tries to find him.

Is It Any Good?

The early family scenes in Home Alone 2 are some of the movie's funniest moments, as are Kevin's clever survival schemes at the hotel and on the streets of New York. As a sequel, the movie manages to be funny, if predictable, and occasionally borders on heart-warming -- in an odd yet touching moment, Kevin befriends a homeless woman and encourages her to reach out to people more.

It's easy to see why fans took to Culkin's "little big guy" routine in the '90s. He's a charmer. And as Kevin's mom, Catherine O'Hara is a well-wrought mix of funny and sentimental.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about good ways to work out family conflicts. How does Kevin defend himself from his older brother's bullying? Was he right to do that?

  • Parents can also talk about safety issues, such as what might happen if a kid were accidentally separated from his parents and forced to go it alone in a strange city. What would be the safest way to respond to a mix-up like the one portrayed here?

  • Parents can also talk about the relationship between Kevin and his parents. Why does it take so long for his family to realize that he's missing?

  • How does this movie compare to the original? Is it as funny the second time around? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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