Home Alone: The Holiday Heist Review

Home Alone: The Holiday Heist

Broadcast Date: 25th November 2012 - US  

 
Production Companies

Fox Television Studios

Manitoba Film and Tax Video Production Credit

Original Pictures

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 90 minutes

Plot Summary

10-year-old Finn Baxter
thinks his family’s new house
in Maine is haunted – but the
truth might be even scarier! A
trio of thieves is after a
priceless painting hidden in a
secret room by the previous
owner. So when Finn and his
sister find themselves home
alone, Finn rigs up an
elaborate array of techno-
gadgets and booby traps to
protect his pad from the
bumbling criminals trying to
break in. 

Cast

Christian Martyn - Finn Baxter

Jodelle Ferland - Alexis Baxter

Malcolm McDowell - Sinclair

Doug Murray - Curtis Baxter

Ellie Harvie - Catherine Baxter

Debi Mazar - Jessica

Eddie Stephen - Mr. Hughes

Edward Asner - Mr. Carson

Adriana O’Neil - Gabby Marano

Peter DaCunha - Mason

Bill Turnbull - Simon

Crew

Director - Peter Hewitt

Based on Original Characters - John Hughes (Uncredited)

Screenplay - Aaron Ginsburg and Wade McIntrye

Executive Producer - David Madden

Producers - Lisa Demberg and Adrian Pjevc

Co-Producer - Paul D. Goldman

Production Designer - Craig Sandelis

Costume Designer - Patricia J. Henderson

Cinematography - Peter Benson

Film Editor - John Congilo

Composer "Home Alone" Theme - John Williams

Music - David Kitay

Review

The joyous season of the holiday is over, but just before it can happen, I borrowed 'HOME ALONE 5' from a friend so I may review it for Christmas. I was so fortunate to skip ahead to the third and fourth installments but found neither of them are as acceptable as the original and to a lesser extent, the second movie. The first 'Home Alone' feature was by far the best of the series and Macaulay Culkin was probably the best child actor in this classic comedy. It seems nowadays that Culkin is fully grown up from his childhood status and the series’ creator John Hughes was deceased when 'HOME ALONE 5' was made in 2012. 'THE HOLIDAY HEIST' is forgettable, but probably would have been a decent film if the script and booby traps were a little more inventive. This sequel was meant for television as I wasn’t aware that it was shown in America on the ABC Family channel (now known as Freeform). The acting was so-so with the exception of Malcolm McDowell who seems fittingly appropriate as Sinclair, the leader of the art thieves. He isn’t the only gentleman actor who is qualified for his recognisable experience in a family picture.

While this film was a bit of an improvement over 'Home Alone 4', (which made no sense whatsoever!) because it was a pilot for a television series, 'HOME ALONE 5' doesn’t however change the fact that this sequel pales in comparison to the legacy of the original. It’d be best to skip this installment in favour of the first two movies through the next holiday.

Star rating: (4/10) Below Average

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