As I mentioned yesterday, my family watched "Home Sweet Home Alone" on Disney + last night. This is the time of year where we all cozy up, have some hot chocolate and watch movies. We did "Home Alone" two nights ago, I am sure we will watch "Elf" soon, my wife will for sure be watching "White Christmas", so we decided to all sit down for "Home Sweet Home Alone". Let’s discuss.

I went into this movie differently than I did when I first watched "Home Alone". "Home Alone" came out when I was 8 years old. I decided I wanted to watch "Home Sweet Home Alone" through my kids eyes. They are 9 and 6, so the age is pretty perfect considering when I first saw "Home Alone". Right off the bat, the cynical side of me, the almost 39 year old side of me, did not think this was all that good a movie. It felt clunky and oddly edited and weirdly put together. There were no real bad guys. The story felt too forced. And I was bummed that the only original character they got was Buzz, and he was barely in the movie. Not my personal favorite.

If I wanted to be a jerk, I would continue to destroy this movie. But I am trying to be less cynical. COVID has made me appreciate things in life more, and to be a little less brutal to stuff I may not like or agree with. So removing that part of my brain, and watching it with my kids, that was a delight. It reminded me a lot of when I watched "Space Jam 2: A New Legacy". "Home Sweet Home Alone" was not made for me. Sure they had nods to the movie I loved as a kid, but this is for a new audience. This movie was made for kids. It is supposed to be weird and goofy. It is like a cartoon come to life. The first "Home Alone" was crazy enough, and this reimagining takes it up a few notches. My kids were both laughing as hard at the scenes when the "bad guys" got hit in the face, head and body. The young boy in the movie, he was in "Jojo Rabbit", was very charming and fun to watch. He wasn't the main character, but he was around enough to really steal the show. I found him very funny too. He is a good actor. The main characters, I guess, were the mom and dad trying to get their doll back. They were played by Ellie Kemper and Rob Delaney, two actors I enjoy. They played their characters way over the top, but I have to assume that was the direction that was given. They are both solid actors, and they rolled with the material the best they could. I liked that in some of the minor parts they got solid comedic character actors. Pete Holmes was fine as the brother of the family that leaves their kid home alone. Timothy Simons and All Maki were both very funny. Chris Parnell had only one scene, but it was nice to see him in this movie. Andy Daly was misused, but that happens to him all the time. Max's mom, played by Aisling Bea, was very good, she was just hardly in the movie. Kenan Thompson was solid as the realtor. Esther Povitsky and Jordan Carlos, two comedic actors I really like, did a good job with their one scene. Even Jim Rash did okay. The actors they got were recognizable for me, and I like when I see people getting a chance to be in a bigger movie. And when I really sit back and think about the movie, the plot of the original is ridiculous, and they just went further on this one.

Again, the adult in me, the cynic in me, the critic in me would have found a ton of stuff to complain about. But when you separate that part from yourself, this is a fine, kind of charming and harmless kids movie. I promise you, even if you do not enjoy it, your kids will love it. I know it will be playing on repeat in the playroom at my house. That's for sure. Show this to your kids and let them have a good time with it. That was how I enjoyed this movie.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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