[John Hughes] figures he didn't need any surprises: Just take the blueprint for the first of the series and slip it in the copying machine.

Twice the bad guys, half the laughs.

To my astonishment, I liked the third Home Alone movie better than the first two; I'm even going so far as to recommend it, although not to grownups unless they are having a very silly day.

This slapstick schtick is slickly delivered and for a well-worn plot, the fun is airy and the stunts at the expense of the bad guys are often very funny.