Credit – 20th Century Fox
A new Home Alone movie is coming to Disney Plus this November and I couldn’t be less excited. I mean a Home Alone reboot…really? Why do we need this? Have the fans of the original two movies been clamoring for this? No they have not. It’s just Disney doing the same thing they have done over the last decade. Wash, rinse, and repeat. They can’t let any of their original content be and are obsessed, or even better, addicted to rebooting and remaking classics that have stood the test of time.
The Fans Are Not Asking For a Sequel
The new movie titled ‘Home Sweet Home Alone’ premieres November 12th and stars Archie Yates as Max Mercer who will be left, you guessed it, home alone in the new reboot. It also stars a lot of comedic talent such as Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, Archie Yates, Aisling Bea, Kenan Thompson, Tim Simons, Pete Holmes, Devin Ratray, Ally Maki, and Chris Parnell. It is directed by Dan Mazer who co-wrote ‘Borat’ and is written by SNL’s Mikey Day and Street Seidell. It looks like Disney really wanted to throw everything including the kitchen sink at this to help it limp across the finish line. Just like ‘Terminator: Dark Fate’, 2016’s ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot, a live action ‘Little Mermaid’, an announced Snow White remake, and an Indiana Jones 5 sequel, no one was asking for a sequel, reboot or remake of these franchises just as no one is asking for a reboot of a classic like ‘Home Alone’. Why Disney thinks this would be a success is beyond me but then again, most of their decisions around their entertainment choices have either failed lately at the box office or managed to infuriate a loyal fanbase. Just look at ‘Black Widow’s’ and ‘Jungle Cruises’ box office numbers or all the scheduled movies for Marvel’s phase 4 and you’ll find yourself scratching your head for the unknown answer.
Sounds More Boring Than the Last Three Sequels
In a press release from Disney, it describes what happens to the character Max Mercer who is left behind as his family travels to Japan for the holidays
“Max Mercer is a mischievous and resourceful young boy who has been left behind while his family is in Japan for the holidays. So when a married couple attempting to retrieve a priceless heirloom set their sights on the Mercer family’s home, it is up to Max to protect it from the trespassers…and he will do whatever it takes to keep them out. Hilarious hijinks of epic proportions ensue, but despite the absolute chaos, Max comes to realize that there really is no place like home sweet home.”
This sounds just as, if not more boring, then the last three sequels that should never have been made. Disney is probably hoping that this will translate into subscribers but I think it just might turn off a few.
Even Chris Columbus Thinks This is a Waste of Time
In an interview with ‘Insider’ last December, even Chris Columbus, director of the first two Home Alone’s said that this was a waste of time when asked if he was at all a part of the new Disney Plus release.
“No, nobody got in touch with me about it, and it’s a waste of time as far as I’m concerned. What’s the point? I’m a firm believer that you don’t remake films that have had the longevity of “Home Alone.” You’re not going to create lightning in a bottle again. It’s just not going to happen. So why do it? It’s like doing a paint-by-numbers version of a Disney animated film — a live-action version of that. What’s the point? It’s been done. Do your own thing. Even if you fail miserably, at least you have come up with something original.”
Disney needs to stop thinking like a corporation that is only concerned with numbers and get back to storytelling in a true and honest way that captivates the audience and allows the fans to escape for a little while into a fun world that is different from their own. In Walt Disney’s own words: “You don’t build it for yourself. You know what the people want and you build it for them.” If the fans are asking for it then make it otherwise leave it alone.
Related: Bob Chapek Makes excuses For Failing Movies
