Prior Viewings: 2-3
I was feeling a bit nostalgic, so I thought I'd return to this unhinged piece of mayhem. And it didn't disappoint. Actually, if anything, it went over even better than it did in my youth.
One thing I've learned about myself from years of endlessly rewatching the first three Home Alone movies is that I very much enjoy seeing cocky, dim-witted villains get their comeuppance at the hands of small underdogs. It's also part of the reason why I grew up loving Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry (even if I was one of those precocious snobs who rooted for Tom). And that's pretty much the entire appeal of this one. Probably doesn't sound like much, but it's all I need, and Nathan Lane and Lee Evans (and Christopher Walken, in a fantastic cameo) are committed enough to ensure that the slapstick remains fresh and satisfying from beginning to end.
Also contributing to the quality of this thing is rookie Gore Verbinski, who gives the movie a gothic style and palette that wouldn't look out of place next to The Addams Family and Batman Returns (which, if you know anything about me, is extremely high praise). It's shockingly gorgeous to look at, in both architecture and cinematography, and it carries a dark-yet-whimsical tone and texture that hits my sweet spot. Might explain why I grew up to be such a big Coen Brothers fan.
Grade: A
No comments:
Post a Comment