A trailer for this movie uses a hilariously twisted version of "Deck the Halls", complete with Follow the Bouncing Ball, over some of Harry and Marv's mishaps:
Deck the halls with Marv and Harry. (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la!) Make their Christmas not-so-merry. (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la!) Give them bricks, and give them wrenches. (Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la la la!) One more Christmas in the trenches. (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la!)
Toss some paint-cans (sic) down to greet them. (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la!) Send the toolbox down to meet them. (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la!) Serve them nails for Christmas dinner. (Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la la la!) Marv: YEOW!!!! Kevin is declared the winner. (Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la la la!) Harry: May I do the thinking, please?
The hotel staff chases Kevin into his hotel suite, where Kevin suddenly puts on Angels with Even Filthier Souls and does a much more over the top version of his previous use of the movie on the pizza boy in the first film to slow them down:
Johnny: Hold it right there! Mr. Hector: This is the Concierge, sir! Johnny: I knew it was you. I could smell ya getting off the elevator! [...] You was here last night too, wasn't ya? [beat] Mr. Hector: ...Yes, sir. I was. Johnny: You was here...and you was smoochin' with my brother! Mr. Hector(taken aback) I... I'm afraid you're mistaken, sir. Johnny: Don't gimme that. You been smoochin' with everybody! Snuffy, Al, Leo, Little Moe with the gimpy leg, Cheeks, Bony Bob, Cliff... Security Guard:(everyone looks to this guard, whose nametag just happens to reads "Cliff", he is shocked as everyone else. One of them also has an expression that basically says "Cliff, is it true?" while Cedric shakes his head with a "for shame" expression) No! It's a lie! Johnny: I could go on forever, baby. Mr. Hector: I'm terribly sorry, sir, but I'm afraid you're mistaken. We're looking for a young man. Johnny: All right. I believe you. (Johnny pulls his gun in the film) But my tommygun don't! (everyone is horrified) Get down on your knees and tell me you love me. Mr. Hector:(whispers) On your knees. (everyone gets down on their knees) I love you! (Kevin snickers in the other room) Johnny: You gotta do better than that! Hotel Staff:[in unison] I LOVE YOU! Johnny: Maybe I'm off my hinges, but I believe ya. That's why I'm gonna let ya go. I'm gonna give ya 'til the count of three to get your lousy, lyin', low-down, four-flushin' carcass out my door! (the hotel staff scramble out of there as fast as they can) One... Mr. Hector: Open the door! Johnny: Two... (Begins unloading his tommygun, laughing maniacally. The hotel staff dive for cover out in the hall) Three! (Kevin lip syncs Johnny's words as he ducks into the stairwell) Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal! (Johnny shoots another burst. Kevin pokes his head out on cue) And a Happy New Year. (one last shot) Mr. Hector:(as he and the staff begin crawling away as the hotel guests peek out) Stay in your rooms! This is an emergency! There's an insane guest with a gun!
Earlier, when Kevin watches the movie the first time.
Johnny: You was here last night too, wasn't ya? Gardenias: I was singing at the Blue Monkey last night. Kevin: She was not! She was smooching with your brother. Johnny: You was here... and you was smoochin' with my brother! Kevin: See?
"SUCK BRICK, KID!" Marv's one-liner to Kevin once he has a brick in hand, clearly said in response to having suffered four thrown bricks to the face in less than two minutes from Kevin throwing said bricks from a three story rooftop. Even more hilarious is that on the final one Marv sees Kevin winding up and starts incoherently babbling while he tries to warn Harry. Despite being the one to see it coming and Harry looking away, he still winds up getting hit.
Making it funnier is that Kevin simply takes a step to the left and Marv completely misses.
The exchange with Mr. Hector the concierge (played by Tim Curry of course) and Kevin operating the shower. Kevin has rigged up the inflatable Bozo to silhouette behind the shower curtain, making it out to be his dad. He's playing the recording of Uncle Frank singing "Cool Jerk" by the Capitols on the Talkboy that he recorded near the beginning of the film. The concierge walks in and is standing in disbelief when Kevin turns the inflated Bozo and this exchange, complete with gestures, occurs:
Recorded Uncle Frank: GET OUT OF HERE YOU NOSY LITTLE PERVERT, OR I'M GOING TO SLAP YOU SILLY! Mr. Hector:(some sort of anguished cry)(runs out of the bathroom) Recorded Uncle Frank: Oh, we're cooking, Frankie! Mr Hector:(hits and knocks over endtable) Oof! (places endtable upright and limps out of the room)
This becomes especially funny when you consider one of Tim Curry's earlier roles...
Speaking of that scene, Kevin got the recording while his Uncle Frank was in the shower, while getting his tie.
Kevin: My tie's in the bathroom. I can't go in there, 'cause Uncle Frank's taking a shower. He says if I walked in there and saw him naked, I'll grow up never feeling like a real man. (His parents stare at him in confusion) Kevin: Whatever that means. Peter:(laughs but immediately stops noticing Kate's Death Glare) I'm sure he was just teasing. You just run in there, get your tie, get out, and don't look at... anything.
When Harry and Marv first spot Kevin and surprise him on a crowded New York street. Kevin's initial response? To scream as loudly as possible. They respond by looking around awkwardly. And Kevin just stands there for a few seconds.
When he gets caught in the clutches of the bandits a few moments later, how does he escape? By taking a giant squeeze out of the ass of the lady in front of them (who happened to be the same woman who slapped Marv after he tried to flirt with her earlier in the film) and passes it off as his captors doing it; she punches them both out and he escapes. Even funnier is he thanks her afterward, and she in turn gives him a nod and happy "Hmph".
Marv:(sees the lady, attempts to put on a suave grin) Well hello. (gets punched) Kevin:He did it! (Points at Harry) Harry:Didwhat? (Gets decked by her anyway) Kevin:(Big grin on his face) Thanks!
Kate and Peter explaining to Airport Security in Florida that yes, they have in fact lost Kevin once before. Which leads to this wonderfully awkward attempt at humor from Peter:
Peter: Funnily enough, we never lose our luggage!
And then he and Kate start giggling nervously and knock on wood while the officer very uncomfortably stares at them. This becomes even more funny when you remember the officer from the first movie that spoke with Kevin's parents being completely unconcerned.
Marv falls into the basement through a huge hole Kevin cut in the floor. He stands up and wrenches his back so that he's staring straight up, and declares "Wow, what a hole!"
And before that he had to suffer a gauntlet of pain just to get up the front steps and into the door, starting with being pelted by bricks, followed by repeatedly getting shot in the butt, groin, and nose by a staple gun, in that order. After having enough and kicking the doors open he proudly shouts:
Marv: Harry! I've reached the top! [takes one step forward, falling into the massive hole down to the basement.]
Kevin throwing down bricks at the bandits, every single one hitting Marv on the spot. Bonus points for the first brick, which sends Marv stumbling to the ground making a sound something like "Eeuurraaaghh!" Summed up by Honest Actions as follows:
Marv's unexpected encounter with an electrified sink. Cue frantic screaming that gradually increases in pitch the longer it goes on, and his brief transformation into a screaming skeleton. Röntgen would not approve.
Marv tries to leave the basement by way of a conveniently placed rope going up several floors. He tugs on it to see if it's stable; it seems to be, so he takes his first jump up...and pulls a massive bag of cement mix off the edge of the top floor. Marv ends up looking like a Death Metal version of Ronald McDonald afterwards.
Marv:Uh-oh... (the bag hits him, flooring him; when he gets up, his hair is puffed up and his face is all white) Marv: I'm gonna murder that kid. [beat]ACHOO! *coughs*
Near the end of the movie we have this gem between Kevin's mom and one of the hotel employees
Kate: "What kind of hotel allows a child to check in alone?" Hotel Employee: "The boy had a very convincing story." Kate:(angrily) "What kind of idiots do you have working here?" Hotel Employee:(proudly) "The finest in New York."
Peter:(picks up Kevin's bag) That's Kevin, give this to Kevin. Kate: Give this— (Uncle Frank gestures "Not me!", so Kate turns to Aunt Leslie instead) Give this to Kevin. Aunt Leslie:(rolls her eyes) Give this to Kevin. Tracy: Give this to Kevin. Linnie: Kevin. Buzz:[without even taking the bag so it goes directly from Linnie to Rod] Give this to Kevin. Rod: Give this to Kevin. Sondra: Give this to Kevin. Megan: Give this to Kevin. Jeff: Give this to Kevin. Brooke: Give this to Kevin. Fuller: Here you go, Kevin. (turns and is shocked to see an elderly couple looking quizzically at him, then gives bag back) Kevin's not here. Brooke: Kevin's not here. Jeff: Kevin's not here. Megan: Kevin's not here. Sondra: Kevin's not here. Rod: Kevin's not here. [passes over Buzz] Linnie: Kevin's not here. Tracy: Kevin's not here. Aunt Leslie: Kevin's not here. Kate:Kevin's not here. Peter:(double-takes)WHAT?! Kate:(laughs for a few seconds before...)KEVIN!!!!(faints)
Harry unknowingly lights his own head on fire with a light cord that Kevin has rigged up to a blowtorch. He inexplicably starts casually walking around the room — despite being able to tell Kevin's not there — for a few seconds, and doesn't realize what has happened to his head until he glimpses at the mirror.note Perhaps the blowtorch that burned his head in the first movie damaged the nerves in that part of his head or, since the blowtorch's flames were a lot smoother, his hat stopped him from feeling the fire. He panics and after realizing that the sink faucets don't work because the plumbing is busted, he notices water in the toilet. Instead of simply taking his hat off and throwing it in or just dunking his head in the water, he does a perfect handstand on the rim of the toilet and lowers himself in, not knowing that the liquid in the toilet has been replaced with paint thinner. The result is an explosion that blows out the entire first floor of the house but miraculously Harry survives with only a singed scalp and some soot on his face and teeth.
The fact Harry actually checked to see if every light was a trap except the one that was.
During his panic, Harry screams "HE DID IT!", in disbelief that his head is aflame again.
Marv and Harry's Bad "Bad Acting" as they try to fake Kevin out by pretending to get hit with the paint cans, having anticipated that he would try this, while Harry counts them off ("OW! Right in the SCHNOZZ!"). Sadly, they fail to anticipate the lead sewer pipe that knocks them down a moment later:
Marv:[as the pipe comes swinging their way]Oops. (the pipe slams in their faces, knocking them down the stairs, into the hole in the floor and onto the basement where they lie) Marv: That's... three. (Kevin cuts the string holding the pipe, causing it to roll down the stairs) Harry:No... (the pipe hits them again) Marv: That's... four!
It also helps that before Kevin catches them off-guard, they're clearly enjoying themselves as they put up their act, along with the fact that Marv seems clueless as to what Harry's getting at until the first paint can comes down.
The ham-tastic way in which Marv delivered this response, suddenly straightening up, thrusting out his chest and putting his hands on his hips.
Kevin: You guys giving up? Have you had enough pain? Marv:NEVAH!
It cannot be overstated how much Daniel Stern hams it up in this movie.
At the end, Kevin is in Central Park wishing the pigeon lady a Merry Christmas, while Buzz gets Kevin's room service bill at the hotel room. Buzz holds in a shit-eating grin while looking at it.
Buzz: Merry Christmas, indeed. Oh, daaaa-aad... (cut to outside) Peter:KEVIN!!!! YOU SPENT $967 ON ROOM SERVICE???!!!
What makes this even funnier is the fact that modern audiences would think that's not terrifyingly much for a kid stuck in a city for a few days, since modern pricing for the hotel Kevin stayed at can run about $600 for a few days. However, adjusting for inflation as of 2021, Kevin spent the 1992 equivalent of more than $2,000 on room service alone.
When Kate and Peter wake to find that they've overslept. Again.
Kate and Peter: We did it again! (Aside Glance) Argh!
Throughout the early parts of the search through the booby trapped house, Harry is doing his damned best to make sure he doesn't fall for any traps again. He fails to do so, obviously, but it's just so hilarious watching him constantly testing doorknobs and checking whether or not anything he touches will set off another trap.
Admit it, the transition shot from the Grinch's evil smile to Tim Curry pulling one of his own was pretty funny.
Even funny is when Tim Curry says his line, the light bulb above him turns on.
As much of a Jerkass as he is, Buzz's prank during the performance is still pretty hilarious on its own — him holding the glowing (electronic) candles behind Kevin's ears like bunny ears, then pointing them towards his ears like arrows (think an arrow through the head headpiece gag), then finally pretending to drum on his head with them (with very convincing motions and expression at that), all the while almost the entire audience are sent into hysterics. Not necessarily to be mean towards Kevin, but just because they find the harmless prank utterly hilarious, sure Buzz is publicly making Kevin out to be an idiot, they think he is just goofing around with him and is all for laughs. As mean as the stunt is, as mean their actions were though, honestly who could blame them, they did not know the family's dynamics, they did not know why Buzz was truly doing it. Knowing though that all the adults and older students in the audience, as well as the other children in the choir, think Buzz is just messing around with Kevin, does make it not as terrible and much funnier, but knowing that they still chose to laugh like that let alone to a ten year old kid, especially in an event like that, does not. Still you can take it either way, not intentionally malicious (except Uncle Frank's response to it anyway), but not entirely innocent either.
Buzz's ridiculously formal apology afterwards, which the entire family eats up. What really makes it is his line after Kevin rightfully storms off.
Buzz: (shaking his head with a thoughtful expression) What a troubled young man...
Though you do feel sorry for the pianist when she tips over in her chair, especially that she was one of the few who did not laugh at Kevin during his solo, you cannot help but chuckle at her vocal response to it.
Kevin's reaction to Buzz is also hilarious, though he was in the wrong to shove Buzz causing Buzz and the other students, as well as the set to fall over, as a response, it is still hilarious and a bit cathartic to see.
At the end of the film, before Buzz gives his speech to Kevin, he tries to get everyone's attention by blowing a whistle. Instead, he blows a raspberry.
When Kevin photographs the bandits outside the toy store: "Hey guys! Smile!" — and Marv does!
Frank: You better not wreck this trip, you little sourpuss. Your dad's paid good money for it. Kevin: Oh, wouldn't want to spoil your fun, Mr. Cheapskate.
Which is made even funnier by both his and Fuller's reactions.
Harry: Yep, there's nobody dumb enough to knock off a toy store on Christmas Eve. Marv: Oh yes there is... (points and himself and Harry)
Uncle Frank, to Fuller, who's drinking a soda: "Hey, easy on the fluids, pal. The rubber sheets are packed." He then takes the Coke and begins drinking it himself.
Marv's girly scream when he's attacked by the pigeons.
As Kate is deciding to look for Kevin herself:
Kate: The way I'm feeling, no mugger or murderer would dare mess with me! Mr. Hector: Madam, there are hundreds of parasites out there, armed to the teeth— (gets slapped across the face by Kate's glove) Do bundle up; it's awfully cold outside. (Lip quivering as he looks like he's struggling not to cry)
After arriving in New York fresh from a jailbreak, Marv immediately commits the dastardly crime of… snatching at a bucket full of change from a charity Santa Claus in passing.
Harry: That's real smart, Marv. You bust out of jail to rob 14¢ from a Santee Claus?
Marv also announces from the change sticking to his taped hand that their new nickname is "The Sticky Bandits!". Harry looks supremely unimpressed and merely says, "Real cute."
At the end, when Harry and Marv are arrested again, Marv wants it known to the press that their new name is the Sticky Bandits:
Marv: That's "sticky". S, T, uh... Harry: I. Marv: I...
Kevin manages to leave evidence for the cops before he runs off into the night; his Polaroids of Harry and Marv stealing the cash, and a tape recording when they'd captured him earlier simply labelled "Bad Guys Saying They'll Kill Me."
As Harry and Marv are being arrested, one of the officers jokingly tells them they should have started their plan earlier than they did because the prison inmates have already finished exchanging their Christmas gifts.
Marv: We missed the presents?
Kevin's plan to expose Harry's and Marv's plan to the police is made easy because Marv openly tells them.
Marv: He made us hide out in the store so we could steal all the kiddies' charity money. Harry:(kicks Marv) Shut up, Marv! You got the right to remain silent, you know. Marv: He's a little cranky. We just broke out of prison a few days ago. Harry:(kicks him again) SHUT UP, Marv! Jeez! Cop:(disgusted) Get 'em outta here.
Harry and Marv hide out in Mr. Duncan's toy store, in doll houses. They poke their heads out of the windows to discuss their plan to rob the place and have to stay completely still when customers walk past.
Marv: Hey, nice house! But there's no bathroom in it!
Later in the scene, when Kevin takes their picture as they're grabbing the loot, Harry runs out of the store and jumps on a board- Marv inadvertently hops on the other end, sending Harry airborne and landing on the top of a car. Even better, Marv complains as he's helping Harry up: "I twisted my ankle on that board there."
Early on, Kevin is warned that if he doesn't clean up his act, he'll have to sleep in the attic, and Fuller chimes in, "Yeah, with me," while guzzling a Coca-Cola in front of him. What really sells it is that Fuller is well aware of the danger that he poses to Kevin, and gleefully holds it over his head.
.Marv: (voiced dubbed by John McClane) How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?