Hotel Transylvania is a 2012 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Sony Pictures Animation for Columbia Pictures. It was released on September 28, 2012. It is directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and produced by Michelle Murdocca. The film features the voices of Adam Sandler (an executive producer), Selena Gomez, Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, Jon Lovitz, Cee Lo Green, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon and David Spade.
The movie took $358,375,603 at the box office on a budget of $85 million. Transylvania 2 has been announced for September 2015 release but without Genndy Tartakovsky as he is directing a new version of Popeye.
Plot:
In 1895, Dracula builds a resort in Transylvania, hidden from the humans, to raise his beloved daughter Mavis in a safe environment.
In the present days, the place is the Hotel Transylvania, where monsters bring their families to spend vacation far from the frightening humans. Dracula invites his friends – Frankenstein and his wife Eunice; Wayne and Wanda, the werewolves; Griffin, the invisible man; Murray, the mummy; the Bigfoot, among others – to celebrate the 118th birthday of Mavis. When the party is ready to start, the 21-year-old Jonathan is walking through the forest and stumbles at the hotel. Dracula sees Jonathan and disguises him as a monster to hide Jonathan from the guests. But Mavis also sees Jonathan and Dracula forces him to pose of a monster. Soon Mavis believes that Jonathan is the “zing” of her life despite the advices of her father about the humans…
Reviews:
“This is a fun film, full of quirky gags and lovable characters. There are a few songs that smack a bit like soundtrack marketing for the kids, and the story is of course fairly predictable, but this movie is about enjoying a fun journey with great characters. It’s a romp that kids and families will all enjoy. Hotel Transylvania is definitely somewhere you’ll want to check in.” IGN
“Unfortunately, outside of the sharp animation style, Hotel Transylvania is hard to recommend to anyone but parents looking to distract their kids for a few hours with a hyperactive movie experience. Adults will find a few chuckle-worthy gags and children will have plenty of colorful monsters and lowbrow antics to keep their eyes busy but, in spite of the film’s thin attempt to strike at something deeper, very little of the onscreen action is unique or memorable.” ScreenRant
“Genndy Tartakovsky brings a welcome commitment to squash-and-stretch animation to the 3D, CG world, but the problem is the story: a profoundly generic tale about parental over-protectiveness. With auto-tuned songs and unfunny jokes, Sandler and co. can’t reanimate the script, leaving Tartakovsky rather stranded.” Helen O’Hara, Empire Magazine
“‘Is this how vampires are represented nowadays?” groans Count Dracula, cloaked, fanged and heavily accented, as he catches a glimpse of a Twilight film on an in-flight video screen. It’s a bearably funny joke, but it feels a bit rich coming from Hotel Transylvania, which appropriates the vampire mythos in a far more banal way than Stephenie Meyer’s moony teen romances did.” Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
“Eschewing the retro-cool stylings of his TV ’toons, Tartakovsky channels Tex Avery with a 90-minute barrage of weapons-grade lunacy. Rarely is the screen free from something running, screaming, gurning or belching in your face. It bursts with ideas and the characters are warmly drawn; it’s just a shame the jokes come so thin and fast.” Paul Bradshaw, Total Film
“The only potentially frightening elements are Dracula’s “angry face,” which he flashes when he can’t control his rage (it only lasts a few seconds, but it’s a bit demonic looking), and a mob scene that puts a central character in danger. There’s also a backstory that involves humans killing the main character’s mother, but it’s handled delicately. Language includes insults/rude words like “stupid” and “shut up,” and there’s some innuendo, flirting, and a quick kiss between a 118-year-old vampire hybrid and a 21-year-old guy (hey, it worked in Twilight!).” Common Sense Media
Wired.com‘s 10 Things Parents Should Know About Hotel Transylvania
Buy Hotel Transylvania on 3D Blu-ray Disc + UV copy from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com
