Stealing Ideas
The Baxter family have moved from California to Maine although young Finn (Christian Martyn) is not happy as he is convinced their new home is haunted, something which the quirky kid across the road tells him is true. But none of his family believe him and think he is being ridiculous when he sets up a series of ghost traps even thinking he has staged it when one of his traps is triggered. What the Baxter's don't realise is that their house contains a rare painting and art thief Sinclair (Malcolm McDowell) and his two helpers are trying to steal it. When Finn's parents go to a Christmas party Finn and his sister are left home alone and Finn must to protect it from the criminals.
Christian Martyn and Jodelle Ferland, the two young stars of "Home Alone 5", otherwise known as "Home Alone: The Holiday Heist", weren't even born back in 1990 when Macaulay Culkin starred in the original "Home Alone". Makes you feel old doesn't it, not only that we have actors starring in sequels who weren't even born back when the original was made but also the fact that as it is now 2015 "Home Alone" is now 25 years old yet still as enjoyable as ever. That is not something you will find me saying about "Home Alone: The Holiday Heist" in 25 minutes let alone in 25 years when I wonder how many more "Home Alone" sequels we will have been subjected to.
Anyway as to "Home Alone: The Holiday Heist" well after some build up about young Finn believing his home is haunted and is scared of going down in to the basement we get what we expect which is Finn being home alone, or home alone with his sister locked in the basement, protecting his home against 3 bungling art thieves. It tries to update things with Finn talking to a gamer over the net about what to do but with around half an hour to go what we get is Finn and series of booby traps including a homage to the fist movie with an icy path whilst also having paid homage to the Kevin after shave scream scene earlier on. But for all the homages it all ends up weak and predictable with that sense of actors just going through the motions.
What this all boils down to is that once again "Home Alone: The Holiday Heist" is weak when compared to the first two movies and in truth is sort of in-between the third and fourth movie when you rank the "Home Alone" movies.
Tags: TV Christmas Movies, Christmas Movies
