Movie Review: Hotel Transylvania

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

 
I was really excited to watch Hotel Transylvania. I'm a fan of Bram Stoker's Dracula ever since I watched that movie and anything to do with Dracula fascinates me. The real 'Dracula' existed in the form of Vlad the Impaler in Bulgaria circa 1430s (and no, he didn't suck blood or burn under the sun). 

Hotel Transylvania, an animated 3D movie tells the story of Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler), an overprotective father and his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez). Dracula does everything in his power to keep Mavis away from the humans as he is convinced that they are out to get (read: kill) his kind. He literally builds a protective wall in the form of a hotel where his daughter will be safe from the humans. However, Mavis has other plans as she wants to experience paradise aka Hawaii and interact with the humans. As it is every year, Dracula throws a grand birthday party for Mavis and invites all the monsters. You see more than a handful of classic monsters attending the event from Frankenstein to The Mummy to The Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood. However, a party is not complete without a little mishap. Enter a human named Jonathan (voiced by Andy Samberg),  your typical 'dude' who happens to stumble upon Hotel Transylvania. From then on ensues a roller coaster ride of tears and laughter for both, as Jonathan  befriends the monsters and falls for Mavis while Dracula tries to get rid of him.


Hotel Transylvania is the brainchild of Genndy Tartakovsky. The name will ring a bell with people who watch Cartoon Network as he is the creator behind The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory and a few other shows.

 
The movie delivers the slapstick comedy and you see Dracula's genius ways (sarcasm intended) of constantly trying to shield his daughter whilst developing a bond with the very species he loathes. The concept of true love has been devised in the form of a 'zing' which is more like love at first sight or finding out that you've met 'The One'. It's a nice  way to deviate from the cliche concepts.


Mavis is a rebellious character but a soft one at that- once she discovers things on her own, she understands it better as opposed to someone telling her about it. Jonathan is a carefree individual who is fascinated by costumes and monsters but as time flies, he does put on his responsible hat in order to keep everyone happy.


It's a kid friendly movie but adults will enjoy the entertaining 90mins of run time.

All in all, Hotel Transylvania is an entertaining movie that will keep kids glued to the screen until the end. Keep an eye out for the hilarious Twilight movie reference and the "I'm Dracula, blah blah blah" scene.


Rating: 2.5/5 star. 

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