Hotel Transylvania (01/29/2013)

Rated PG for some rude humor, action and scary images.

Starring Adam Sandler (voice), Selena Gomez (voice), Andy Samberg (voice), Kevin James (voice), Fran Drescher (voice), Cee-Lo Green (voice), David Spade (voice), Steve Buscemi (voice), Molly Shannon (voice), Jon Lovitz (voice)

Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (first film)

This movie had two surprises: the amount of laughs and the amount of heart…both positives for me.

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.

Admittedly, the concept of “monsters” as the “good guys” and humans as the villains is nothing new. But Tartakovsky keeps things moving along at a satisfying pace with a stellar voice cast that includes Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Cee-Lo Green, David Spade, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon.

I especially liked how the film is introducing the classic horror characters to a whole new generation. Forget Jason, Freddy, Jigsaw and that creepy girl with the black hair. Give me Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy and the Wolfman any day.

There are a few laughs and the animation isn’t horrible. And although there is the obligatory dance number with Dracula singing, my guess is your little ones will enjoy it, making this one a solid “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
With this cast and writers, one should expect several sexual innuendos that most younger viewers will completely miss. Like when the Invisible Man gets his swimming trunks pulled down (nothing is shown, obviously) and as everyone laughs he says, “I just got out of the pool! It’s cold! Don’t judge me!” Later we actually see a bit of his backside when he puts powder on after a shower.

There is some cartoon violence, nothing too offensive.

The word “hell” is used once and a couple silly sayings like “Holy rabies!” and someone is said to be going “bat-poop.”

Some images may be scary to younger viewers, but most of them are played for laughs. For example, periodically throughout the film Dracula becomes angry and roars loudly as his eyes glow red. Some of the monsters may seem frightening to younger children. The scene where Mavis is visiting the human village may be frightening to some, because it has a few “jump scares.”

Conversation Starter

1. In the film Dracula is what is often called an “over protective parent”. In one scene he says, “As a father you do everything you can to keep your family safe.” What did you think of his parenting style?


2. What did you think of the next line where he says, “Even if that means you have to break their trust.”


3. Most teenagers say things like, “I wish my parents trusted me.” What are some things they do that make you say that?


4. What are some things you have done to make them trust you less than 100%?


5. Eventually Dracula learns that his daughter has to be allowed to make her own choices and experience life on her own terms. What are some lessons that you have learned “the hard way”?


6. What is one thing you can do this week to improve your relationship with your parents?