Home Alone 4 (2002)

My Review

Kevin McAllister is upset that his parents are divorced, and he must choose where to spend Christmas in “Home Alone 4.” He decides to go to his father and his girl friend’s mansion, where an unnamed foreign royal family is scheduled to arrive, with hijinks proceeding from there. Unfortunately, this fourth in the “Home Alone” franchise is the first film with no involvement from creator John Hughes, and the low-quality storyline and poor production values is evident.

Director Rod Daniel and writers Debra Frank and Steve L. Hayes have a real bomb on their hands, with only a few laughs here and there to offer to the audience. There is a whole new cast including Mike Weinberg as Kevin, as well as French Stewart, Missi Pyle, Barbara Babcock, Erick Avari, Jason Beghe, Clare Carey, Joanna Going, Gideon Jacobs, and Chelsea Russo. The Royal Family is played by Andre Roothman, Lisa King, and Craig Geldenhuys. This film is Barbara Babcock’s final movie appearance to date before her retirement, in a career that began in 1968.

This unwatchable made-for-television Christmas family comedy movie “Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House” was aired on November 3, 2002, on ABC, a production of Fox Television Studios, Disney Media Networks, and The Walt Disney Company. It was filmed in Capetown, South Africa. The next sequel is “Home Alone 5: The Holiday Heist” in 2012.