Now He's Alone in New York — and He's Even More Dangerous Sequels. Always a tricky subject. A second film following a successful first one needs to be just as good — yet continuations so often end up destroying the beautiful original stories that came before them. To great delight, "Home Alone 2" is exactly the kind of sequel you can say without a shadow of doubt turned out wonderfully. And like the first film, it's one you can watch again and again every Christmas and New Year. Director Chris Columbus follows the classic rules of a sequel. He mirrors the story of the first film, but complicates the plot and scales everything up considerably. It will surprise no one that Kevin gets lost again — but this time he finds himself not alone at home, but alone in New York, one of the largest cities on the planet. And the boy doesn't disappoint: thanks to a fortunate turn of events, he sets out to make the most of the holidays. But his old acquaintances Harry and Marv come crashing back into his life. The Wet Bandits gracefully "evolve" into the Sticky Bandits, and their confrontation with the now ten-year-old boy is an absolute delight to watch unfold. The film closely mirrors its original — that's obvious. Yet the filmmakers manage to offer something special that ties the story to the first film, reminding you of what happened a couple of years earlier while still delivering something of its own. The movie is packed with solid jokes, gleeful tumbles, whacks, and assorted mayhem, with the screen villains getting it even worse than last time. But all these echoes of the original feel welcome rather than tiresome — if anything, you want more and more of Kevin outwitting his opponents. That's what a fairy tale is for: so that good proves stronger than evil, and everything that happens — however lethal it might seem — is all in good fun. The performances are as strong as before. The trio of main characters hold the screen beautifully. Macaulay Culkin has grown a little, and you can feel how much he's developed as an actor. Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci remain exactly as they were — the same beloved villains, whom you increasingly feel for as you realize just how many times they've already had to "die" from one trap or another. I once came across a video that counted how many times the villains would have actually died across both Columbus films. Suffice to say, their chances of survival would have been nonexistent. The second film, like the first, creates a wonderful Christmas atmosphere, practically bursting with bright reds and greens. The abundance of color lets you soak up the spirit of Christmas and New Year, while the setting of the story leaves no doubt about its place as enduring classic that generation after generation has rewatched every year — and, one hopes, will continue to do so. The film is full of energy and memorable supporting characters. The appearances alone of an entire ensemble of comic performers — Tim Curry, Rob Schneider, and Dana Ivey among them — are worth the price of admission. Their characters in the grand hotel are wonderfully funny. The theme of friendship is handled with warmth and its own particular charm, and the rest of the cast is equally fine. But as before, what takes center stage is the relationship between the mother (Catherine O'Hara) and her young son. Even if it echoes what we already saw develop in the first film, that repetition feels justified — a reminder to the audience that the most important thing in life is family. That no matter what hardships may come, it is always worth remembering who the people closest to you truly are. "Home Alone 2" is a good and engaging story that absolutely deserves a spot on your watchlist, at least over the holiday season. It is a beautifully wrapped — like a gift — tale of family adventure, exciting action, and above all an incredible fairy tale that you want to keep on believing in. 10 out of 10