The Talon December 10, 2021
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‘Princess’
right to mistrust Montenaro’s justice system. As for the main plotline, any sense of mystery dissolves less than a quarter of the way into the CONTINUED FROM movie as a private contractor (who THE FRONT PAGE is also Fiona’s love interest) deduces the identity of the thief. Its Set in the fictional, vaguely initial fast pace grinds to a halt as European-sounding country of the rest of the movie centers on Montenaro, “The Princess Switch Fiona’s exploits as she leads the ef3” opens with the arrival of the fort to get the Star back in a totally Star of Peace, a sacred Christian unnecessary heist involving laser relic once owned by Saint Nicho- mazes and rooftop escapes. Fiona’s abrasive voice and evil las, to be displayed in a museum. Of course, almost immediately, scheming from the last movie don’t correspond well to her new the Star is stolen. To set the stage for Fiona’s re- sympathetic arc, so she’s given demption arc, Stacy and Margaret a backstory in which an earnest inexplicably recruit her to help child actress portrays a young Fiosolve the case. Oh, and at this na being neglected by her mother. Given that this is glossed over for time, Fiona is doing the vast majority of the community service otherwise lightheartin a convent for kided movie, it’s jarring napping Stacy in a A cheery but whenever it’s glancprevious movie in emotionally ingly brought up, and it a bungled attempt just seems half-baked. to take Margaret’s empty bundle On the topic of rethrone. This is just of Christmas deemability, it’s pretty one example of spirit. hard for me to root for the mind-boggling anyone in the movie. incompetence of Margarent and Stacy as monarchs Although Fiona is virtually the only that distracts from the main story character with an actual purpose, — they trust their kidnapper more her portrayal is off-putting. Marthan their own country’s police garet and Stacy don’t seem to do force. Also, community service for much of anything for most of the kidnapping? Maybe Margaret is movie except impersonate Fiona
VIA NETFLIX
Queen Margaret of Montenaro celebrates Christmas with the king. After the Star of Saint Nicholas is stolen from its museum display, the two royals must recruit their scheming cousin Fiona (Vanessa Hudgens) to get it back. and cheerily talk about Christ- decent job of making the different add any meaningful intrigue. Don’t be put off — despite its mas, which says a lot about their versions of herself seem like discharacters. As monarchs, you’d tinct people. Plus, given the com- shortcomings, “The Princess think they’d be out and about in- plete irrelevance of the male leads Switch 3” is proof that a movie teracting with community lead- in the storyline, the movie some- doesn’t have to be a visual and stoers and government officials, but how makes it easier to tell the rytelling masterpiece to be enterthey seem to have little sense of identical Vanessa Hudgenses apart taining. It’s versatile in its appeal. social consciousness in their royal than it does their love interests. You can analyze the questionable bubble. Perhaps this is the true in- Not that that’s a bad thing — the character choices and laugh at the trigue of “The Princess Switch 3.” focus on Hudgens playing three ridiculous plot, or simply appreciCould a revolution in Montenaro different people is what makes ate it as it’s meant to be: A cheery be on the horizon? the movie novel, and I doubt that but emotionally empty bundle of To Hudgens’s credit, she does a more relationship subplots would Christmas spirit.
‘Home Sweet Home Alone’: Better stick to the original AUDREY ZHU
clearly malicious intentions. Here, rude and spiteful, and not in an it just feels uncomfortable, and it’s endearing way — he even insults obvious the remake completely Jeff when they first meet by commisses the holiday spirit and the paring him to Frankenstein, for As someone who pretty much feel-good aspect. no apparent reason. memorized “Home Alone” in The type of protagBecause Max lacks Christmas pajamas while sipping onist in “Home Sweet the necessary charm hot cocoa, I had high expectations Home Alone” also If you’re lookthat made Kevin likfor the Disney+ remake “Home varied from the pro- ing for a holiday able, it was hard to Sweet Home Alone.” However, tagonist in “Home classic to get sympathize with him despite a few good one-liners and Alone,” with Max you into the or enjoy his elaborate well-casted characters, “Home being portrayed in a booby traps, and I Sweet Home Alone” fails to meet more negative man- Christmas spirfound myself symthe Christmas goal of leaving ner. Kevin captured it, I’d say stick pathizing with the viewers in a feel-good mood; inthe hearts of millions to the original. couple instead. stead, the film delivers an unapwith his stubborn yet I was hoping that a pealing plot and illogical ending charming personheart-warming endwith no sense of closure. ality, whereas Max came off as ing could make up for the on“Home Sweet Home Alone” going character and plot flaws, but once again, I was left disappointed. Instead of including a happy ending to Max’s dysfunctional relationship with his family, the film gives us a lackluster ending with zero closure. In “Home Alone,” Kevin initially fought with his siblings often, and wished that they would all disappear. Throughout the film, he learned to be grateful for his family and he and his brother forgave each other for a previous argument. However, in “Home Sweet Home Alone,” we see that a year into the future, Max and his mother are now friends with Pam and Jeff — an absurd ending that makes no sense given everything the McKenzies endured at Max’s hands. There is also no sign that Max has mended his flawed relationship with his family, which arguably is the reason for him getting forgotten at home in the first place. If you’re looking for a holiday VIA 20TH CENTURY STUDIOS classic to get you into the ChristMax Mercer, a mischievous and spoiled kid, sets up elaborate booby traps to defend his house. “Home Sweet Home Alone” completely misses mas spirit, I’d say stick to the the feel-good spirit of the original “Home Alone,” leaving viewers confused and in no mood to enjoy the holidays. original. Staff Writer
follows the mischievous and spoiled Max Mercer, who is accidentally left home after his entire family goes to Tokyo without him. Like his predecessor Kevin McCallister, the original “Home Alone” protagonist, Max starts out enjoying his newfound freedom when he gets the whole house to himself. But upon overhearing a plan that his house will be broken into, he sets out to protect it. Despite the initial similarities, I found myself uneasy for the majority of the movie, largely due to the major change in the storyline of the villains. The antagonists,
Pam and Jeff McKenzie, are a kindhearted couple with financial issues who mistakenly believe Max has stolen a priceless doll of theirs. As they attempt to get it back, Max sets up booby traps that severely injure the McKenzies. Admittedly, breaking and entering to solve financial problems is taking things a step too far, but hardly something that warrants getting burned or stabbed — especially when it is a generally good-natured but confused couple. The serious injuries endured by the antagonists in the original “Home Alone” seemed appropriate because they were portrayed as bumbling robbers with
