Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York hits many of the same touchstones (and body parts) as Kevin's home-defense hijinks in the first movie (for example, playing rope-a-dope with paint cans on a rope and, well, just some very creative uses of rope and clothesline to thwart a pair of burglars). Instead of defending his home this time, though, Kevin has to distract the duo in mid-burglary of a toy store's charity collection then lure them into a tenement he has boobytrapped. Maudlin moments intersperse with mayhem played for physical humor that's almost Wile E. Coyote-esque. As expected, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) uncovers a message of togetherness at Christmastime with the toy store owner and a homeless bird lady (Brenda Fricker) as his only human connections while "lost in New York." Good stuff from Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Tim Curry, and the rest. 3.5 stars.