Home Alone 3

Cast: Alex D. Linz, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny Von Dohlen, David Thornton, Scarlett Johanson and Christopher Curry.

Director: Raja Gosnell

Release Date: 1997

Running Time: 1hr 42 minutes

Genre: Family

Rating: PG

Format: Sky Cinema

Synopsis:

A nine year old boy living in Chicago, defends himself from thieves who seek a top secret microchip inside his toy car to support a North Korean terrorist organization's next deed.

When a US Air Force missile microchip finds itself in the hands of eight year old Alex Pruitt, he finds himself having to defend his home when four high tech industrial spies come searching for it. Unbeknownst to Alex does he realise the chip is hiding inside a toy car that he was given as a gift. Ready to take action, along with his pet mouse Doris, he is more than prepared when they come looking for him. Directorial debut of Raja Gosnell, Gosnell proves that there is still some spark left in the "Home Alone" franchise in this highly entertaining sequel. However, unlike the first two movies, this story is in fact set after Christmas.

The disappointment hits audiences when they realise it is different from the two previous films. Different director. Different story. Different kid. This film was made purely to entertain, nothing else. Alex D. Linz has just as much if not more charm than Macaulay Culkin. Although the storyline is set in Chicago, the story takes place in a different street. Alex Pruitt finds himself home alone when he develops the chicken pox one night, furious that no one believes him when he witnesses several burglaries, he takes action into his own hands. Proving that he has just as many tricks up his sleeve as Kevin McCallister.

The storyline works well because it doesn't go into serious detail about who these people are. There's a certain amount of mystery to the characters that makes them a lot more interesting and it allows the story to keep in line with the family Christmas persona. The bad guys are what really make this story work. Beaupre, Alice, Jernigan and Unger, performed by four terrific actors, Olek Krupa, Rya Kihlstedt, Lenny Von Dohlen and David Thornton. Absolutely hilarious, they soon find themselves victim of Alex's booby traps. The film comes with a wonderful contemporary soundtrack including smash hit artists such as Oingo Boingo and Chuck Berry. Highly entertaining and full of fun.

5/5 stars