HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (2012)

Genre: CG Animation
Director: Genndy Tartakovsky
Cast: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Cee-Lo Green, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Koechner
RunTime: 1 hr 31 mins
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Rating: PG (Some Scary Images)
Official Website: http://www.welcometohotelt.com/

Opening Day: 6 December 2012 

Synopsis: Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s (Adam Sandler) lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’s 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

Movie Review:

This Genny Tartakovsky directed animated feature was released in the States earlier to coincide with Halloween, and rightly so – because this is a movie about your favourite classic monsters. Here in Singapore, the local distributor has decided to wait for the year end school holidays to ensure there is at least a decent box office taking at the end of the day. And this will work out pretty well, we are sure.

The story is fun enough: Count Dracula has opened a lavish resort Hotel Transylvania, where monsters and their families can take a vacation without worrying about human beings. There, they are free to show their true selves without pesky humans bother them. The action takes place over one special weekend, when Dracula invites his monster friends to celebrate his daughter 118^th birthday. The fun begins when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to his daughter.

The 91 minute movie is a breeze to sit through. The jokes come fast and furious, and fans of classic monsters will enjoy the witty references. It cracks us up whenever Dracula breaks into a fit shouting: “I do not say blah blah blah! Where do you people get this from?” This is obviously a reference to how horror movies always portray Dracula making inaudible noises. Also, watch out for a hilarious scene where Dracula sees a scene from Twilight and laments to himself: “That’s how we are represented, unbelievable.”

For viewers who like their animated movies a little more subdued and intelligent, the sometimes frisky pace of this colourfully drawn production may be a little too much for comfort. There is loads of fun here, and there is never a dull moment as you watch Dracula, Frankenstein, Mummy, The Invisible Man and The Werewolf prance about entertaining you with their gags. The brisk pacing of the very digestible movie will work for those who like their entertainment in fun sized bites.

The voice cast seemed to have a blast being part of this production. Headlining the pack is Adam Sandler as Dracula. The comedian is spot on with his feigned Transylvanian accent, serving his monster guests with zest and gusto. He is accompanied by David Spade (as the fast talking Invisible Man), Steve Buscemi (as the long suffering Werewolf), Kevin James (as the larger than life Frankenstein) and Cee Lo Green (whoever knew that the too cool to be true rapper would take up the role of a Mummy?), who each adds a unique personality to his voice, making the hilarious interactions between the protagonists a must watch. Even the end credits featuring a song performance by the monsters is an appealing touch, which will have you leaving the cinema smiling.

The couple of the movie (the young female vampire and the adventurous backpacker) is voiced by Selena Gomez and Andy Samburg, with the latter sounding a little annoying at times. Fortunately, the love story which blossoms between them is a light hearted affair with no melodrama, which is another reason why the entire family can sit back, relax and watch this from beginning to end without worrying whether there is logic in this tale. 

Movie Rating:  

(Get ready to check in to an hour and a half of brisk hilarity and gags)

Review by Fabian Foo