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Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House
By Joly Herman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Recycled gags with none of the original's charm.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House
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Based on 8 parent reviews
Bad horror movie
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What's the Story?
Kevin (Mike Weinberg) is caught in the middle of his parents' divorce ... and it's Christmas. He goes to his dad's (Jason Beghe) girlfriend's (Clare Carey) house and helps foil a plot by bad guy Marv (French Stewart) and his girlfriend (Missi Pyle) to kidnap a member of the visiting royal family.
Is It Any Good?
The jokes fall flat, and the smart observations sound like they're being read off a cue card. In the HOME ALONE franchise, so much hangs on the little hero, Kevin. Macaulay Culkin's comedic timing and precocious remarks made for great entertainment, but Weinberg just doesn't have the chops to carry this movie's weak script.
The supporting cast isn't as lame: The bad guys are pretty amusing, though they get beaten to a pulp. But serious subjects like divorce and parenting get thrown around too lightly -- and lamely -- to make this good kids' entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the high-priced toys and gadgets seen in this movie. What's your reaction to seeing so many fancy gifts and toys? Does it make you want them or feel dissatisfied with what you have? Here are some ways to talk about material excess in movies like this one.
How is the topic of divorce handled in this movie? Does it seem realistic? Do you have any personal experience with divorce? How is your experience different from what happened in this movie? What are some ways adults can reassure kids affected by divorce?
How does slapstick violence affect kids? Does the comedy make it less realistic? Check out this article for more information.
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 3, 2003
- Cast: French Stewart , Mike Weinberg , Missi Pyle
- Director: Rod Daniel
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Run time: 83 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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