MovieChat Forums > Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House (2002) Discussion > So many problems with this movie. (Massi...

So many problems with this movie. (Massive spoilers)

posted 6 years ago by samoanjoes (58599)
28 replies | jump to latest

And most of the problems were a result of them keeping the same characters of the first two films.

1. Kevin is actually never home alone in this.

2. Kevin hasn't learned from his mistakes.

3. What year does this movie take place? This came out 10 years after Home Alone 2 but if it takes place right after, how has no one aged and why is technology so advanced for 1992 standards? A voice-activated house? Come on. If this is not a continuation of the first two, why has no one aged. Buzz actually looks younger.

4. Why are the parents separating? There was never a hint of it in the first two films. Especially considering this (probably) takes place right after part 2. Also, the dad has turned into such a huge jerk. It's almost as if he never cared for his wife.

5. What are the odds they run into Marv for a third time?

6. Flooding the house was a result of Kevin's stupidity. He allowed that house to flood when he could have locked himself in the room. The house was technologically advanced, so he could have used that to his advantage.

7. The twist was way too obvious. They were really hitting it over the head that the butler was some villain and the old lady was so nice that it only led me to believe that she was the villain. Admittedly, I didn't expect her to be Marv's mother. I'll give it that.

8. A nice, big, expensive house and the only Christmas decorations they have is a tree in the corner of one room.

9. Everyone at the party was completely unaware of everything. At all times.

10. What's with some of the hand-held shots?

11. This is a sequel to one of the most loved Christmas films of all-time, but where is the Christmas spirit? Where are the jingles? The heartfelt moments? This felt more like a late November setting than a Christmas one.

[–] captainbucky (15252) 6 years ago

Those are some things ! Your name your name your name in the singing song game

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I agree!

[–] Utpe (658) 6 years ago

The biggest problem: It exists.

3. What year does this movie take place?

I kept thinking it was 2002 when this heaping pile of dung came out. Since Kate and Peter are splitting up, it seems unlikely that it's around 1992. Nothing really ever led up to them having martial problems in the second installment. This is something that probably happened over time.

Most I could find was somebody saying the vehicle used in HA4 is a 1999 - 2000 Dodge Caravan. I think it's safe to assume it actually did take place later on.

[...]how has no one has aged and why is technology so advanced for 1992 standards? A voice-activated house? Come on. If this is not a continuation of the first two, why has no one aged. Buzz actually looks younger.

Ya got me. Apparently, they were trying to recreate the magic of the original films but it just didn't work. Maybe they did that as an attempt to draw in the original viewing audience. Clearly nobody was going to be duped again.

If this is indeed 2002, then the tech makes sense.

5. What are the odds they run into Marv for a third time?

Astronomical compared to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). Even that was a bit of a stretch.

Instead of making HA4 a theatrical release, the studio decided to put it direct-to-video cause they knew it would bomb financially with no Macaulay Culkin for the second time in a row.

What boggles my mind is that, in 2012, they still went ahead and made a fifth "movie". Good grief. So help me if they keep doing this in 10-year increments.

[–] samoanjoes (58599) 6 years ago

After I posted this I saw a video on YouTube where he claims to be 8-years-old in this movie. He was 10 in part 2. So that means they're claiming this takes place before part 2 which makes even less sense. And again, Buzz is way too young. He looks younger than Kevin. Part 3 and 5 are awful, but part 4 is one of the most unbelievably bad things I've ever seen.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I can agree here. Home Alone 3 at least tried.

[–] kuatorises (7467) 3 years ago

Right? Why would anyone even watch this? What would you expect from a fourth movie in a "series"? When they've reached the point they start recasting the original actor. This was never going to be good.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I read somewhere that Home Alone 4 was going to bring back the characters from Home Alone 3. Could that have turned out better?

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8859) 6 years ago

I didn't watch any of the sequels beyond Home Alone 2, and even that one was disappointing. When I saw the commercials for the made-for-TV films I thought each one in turn looked completely awful. It's a shame that whoever owns the Home Alone franchise allowed it to deteriorate the way it has.

What are there now, six films? How far can you even take the concept anyway without repeating yourself?

Even though I never did see this movie, your 11th point hit home with me. If you're going to make a Christmas movie it needs to be positively lit up with Christmas spirit. That is why we watch these movies, after all, to get an infusion of holiday cheer. Or at least that's why I watch them.

[–] samoanjoes (58599) 6 years ago

It is a Christmas movie. You see minor decorations. But the overall feel felt like Christmas was still over a month away. It felt like Autumn with a little bit of melted snow. I don't recall a single Carol being sung or played. Home Alone isn't Home Alone without it being shoved down our throats and this movie didn't do that. It honestly made me appreciate part 3. I saw part 5 and it was awful too, but this one is really a different level of bad.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I agree, the 3rd movie was better. At least that one was funny and had a decent ending. And AFAIK, there is no Home Alone 6.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I take back what I said about HA6...there is Home Sweet Home Alone on Disney+.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 5 years ago

Why did the shower have a setting where it would be that powerful? Why on Earth would they ever design it like that?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I don't know. Maybe the owner can afford the high water bills?

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

But if it’s going to just destroy the house then what’s the point? Also just because you can afford something doesn’t mean it’s logical to buy it. There’s no reason to have a shower that powerful

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Not to mention, the film reused the adult doesn't believe the kid tactic from the third movie. Instead of the police coming over twice, it consisted of Kevin flooding the house and wrecking his father's engagement party. Being the jerk Natalie was, she was nice enough to give him one more chance before evicting him.

[–] BooBooCat (652) 5 years ago

Dude, it would be way shorter to make a list of things that WORKED in this movie... hmmmm....

1. It's a beautiful house...?

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Got anything else? A smart house in the early 2000's is kind of cool. Predates Google Home, Amazon Echo, you name it!

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7384) 4 years ago

Agree with everything you and everyone else said years ago.

For me, it lost its magic after 2 because it was already pretty difficult suspending disbelief over Kevin going missing twice as it was. That suspension was virtually non-existent by movie 4 - as if his parents would have ever let him out of their sight again. If this is a prequel, then God help us. This was just another case of trying to milk a beloved franchise and failing hard, but it's annoying that this wasn't even the last attempt to do so.

[–] samoanjoes (58599) 4 years ago

It can't be a prequel because Marv recognized Kevin. They messed the story up big time.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7384) 4 years ago

That's how bad it was - so bad that I blocked most of it out. The only thing I strongly recall about it is hating it immensely.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

French Stewart as Marv was a mistake. The OG Marv was played by Daniel Stern, and in the early 90's having curly hair was normal.

[–] samoanjoes (58599) 3 years ago

They even mixed Marv and Harry's clothes up.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Not to mention, how did Marv and Vera get together? Did they meet in prison and break out to have a shotgun wedding?

Marv: Everybody get in the van!

[–] samoanjoes (58599) 3 years ago

I'm not even sure why Marv was even released from jail. He has been caught twice.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

And when Marv was caught again, he said something about the prison cafeteria serving Salisbury steak every Thursday. I don't mind some Salisbury steak myself, even though excess meat products are bad for you.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Home Alone 3 was better.

[–] samoanjoes (58599) 3 years ago

This one made me appreciate part 3.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I agree.