It was released in 1997, five years after Home Alone 2:
Lost in New York, and it was a critical and commercial failure.
Why did Home Alone 3 fail?
Why is Home Alone 3 different?
Is Home Alone 3 a good movie?
Here are some possible answers to these questions.
Why did Home Alone 3 fail?
One of the main reasons why Home Alone 3 failed is that it lacked the charm and appeal of the original films.
The first two Home Alone films starred Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister.
Kevin McCallister is a clever and mischievous boy who has to defend his home from two bumbling burglars.
The films were directed by Chris Columbus and written and produced by John Hughes.
Who created some of the most iconic and beloved family comedies of the 1980s and 1990s.
They were also scored by John Williams, who composed some of the most memorable and magical music in cinema history.
Home Alone 3, on the other hand, starred Alex D. Linz as Alex Pruitt.
Alex is an 8-year-old boy who had to defend his home from four international spies, played by:
- Olek Krupa
- Rya Kihlstedt
- Lenny von Dohlen
- David Thornton
The film was directed by Raja Gosnell, who made his directorial debut after editing the first two films.
Home Alone 3 was written and co-produced by John Hughes, but it was his last film before he retired from Hollywood.
The film was also scored by Nick Glennie-Smith, who was a lesser-known composer.
The fans of the original films were disappointed and confused by the drastic changes in the cast, the plot, the tone, and the style of Home Alone 3.
They felt that the film was a cheap and unnecessary cash grab that betrayed the spirit and the legacy of the franchise.
They also felt that the film was not funny, not exciting, and not scary, unlike the previous films.
The critics agreed with the fans and gave the film mostly negative reviews, criticizing its lack of originality, creativity, and humor.
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Why is Home Alone 3 different?
Another reason why Home Alone 3 failed is that it was different from the original films in many ways.
The original films were based on a simple and relatable premise:
A boy was accidentally left home alone by his family during the holidays and had to fend off two robbers who tried to break into his house.
The films were also set in realistic and familiar locations: a suburban house in Chicago and a hotel in New York.
Pranks and Traps in Home Alone 3
Home Alone 3 was also filled with hilarious and ingenious traps and pranks.
The boy used to outsmart and injure the robbers.
The films were also balanced with heartwarming and emotional moments that showed the boy’s loneliness, courage, and love for his family.
Home Alone 3, however, was based on a complicated and unrealistic premise:
Aboy was home alone with chicken pox and had to fend off four spies who tried to retrieve a stolen microchip that was hidden in a toy car that the boy had.
The film was also set in a generic and bland location: a suburban house in Chicago.
Home Alone 3 was also filled with ridiculous and over-the-top traps and gadgets that the boy used to defeat and humiliate the spies.
The film was also lacking in any meaningful or touching moments that showed the boy’s personality, growth, or connection with his family.
The fans of the original films were bored and annoyed by the differences in the premise, the setting, the traps, and the emotions of Home Alone 3.
They felt that the film was too far-fetched, too silly, and too bland, unlike the previous films.
They also felt that the film was not faithful, not consistent, and not respectful to the franchise.
Read more on:
Is Home Alone 3 a good movie?
The final nail in the coffin for the film was that it was a poor movie, especially when compared to the original films.
The original films were hailed as classics and masterpieces of the family comedy genre.
And they became part of the pop culture and the holiday tradition.
Home Alone 3, however, was a disappointment and a waste of time, at best.
It was slammed for its:
- The boring and predictable script
- Its dull and irritating performances
- Its tedious and repetitive action
- Generic and uninspired music
- Its superficial and irrelevant themes
The film was also shunned by audiences of most ages and backgrounds, and it became part of the bargain bin and the bad movie night.
The fans of the original films were let down and dissatisfied with the quality and the value of the film.
They felt that the film was not fun, not captivating, and not memorable, unlike the previous films.
They also felt that the film was not worth watching, not worth paying, and not worth making.
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Conclusion
Home Alone 3 is the third film in the Home Alone franchise.
But it is also the most hated and the most ignored film in the franchise.
It failed because it lacked the charm and the appeal of the original films
It was different from the original films in many ways, and it was not a good movie
At least not compared to the original films.
Home Alone 3 is a film that most fans of the franchise would rather forget and pretend that it never existed.
