no, the movie was not the same w/ out the one who started it off!!!! he was not as funny and was not as good as a child actor! why did they do that, they should not of even done that and they should have called that movie something else, not a part of the home alone movies!!! my son does not even like that one, he likes the 1st one the best, but when movies have 2nd parts to them, the 1st one is always the best, i think! my son is 6, it is funny, he loves the part where he puts the aftershve on his face, also my x, his fathers name is Kevin, so he always makes jokes to his dad about that, haha