GUEST COLUMN: "Hotel Transylvania" Movie Review
Hotel Transylvania Movie Review
by Lewis Robinson
Are you looking for the next great family movie night selection? Look no further! Hotel Transylvania has it all! Follow along, as Drac, a single dad, teaches his daughter how to do vampire things, like fly, and tries his best to protect her from the outside world, especially humans. Keep on reading to discover more about this cute cartoon.
Plot
He wants to keep his daughter safe from humans, so he builds a fortress that only monsters can get into. This hotel for monsters is much like a human hotel, such as Embassy Suites hotels in Charleston SC. The builders give him a straightforward rule. No fires! As Mavis grows into a teenager, she becomes curious about the outside world. Naturally, she wants to see what lies beyond their monster world. So, being the overprotective father that he is, Drac ensures that she will encounter a staged scene to make humans and the outside world look horrifying. There are fake humans, fires and much more to frighten Mavis. Drac is so happy his plan works to make Mavis realize she does not want to leave the hotel until a human teenage boy, Johnny, stumbles upon the hotel. He noticed the fires and followed them. Drac broke the only rule for safety. Now, he must keep Johnny disguised as a monster to his daughter and friends while keeping them from realizing he is a human. But how? Will Drac succeed? Pop some popcorn, turn on this wonderful family movie and be prepared to laugh for the next hour and a half.
Cast
This cartoon will become a family favorite, filled with laughs and lovable characters. Drac and his best friends make the well-known monsters look funny and cool instead of terrifying. They have wives, children and do pretty ordinary things with a monster spin on them. The characters are voiced by an all-star cast. Adam Sandler brings the comedy as Drac. Selena Gomez voices a perfect Mavis, while Andy Samberg is Johnny. The comedy doesn’t stop with Sandler, though, as all of his buddies are also comedians. Kevin James plays Frankenstein, CeeLo Green is Murray, the mummy, David Spade as Griffin, the invisible man, and Steve Buscemi is Wayne the werewolf. Prepare for lots of laughs! Adults will find humor within the dialogue as well. Some songs will have the kids, and maybe even the adults, dancing and singing along.
Good Values
Hotel Transylvania is filled with sweet messages portraying good values. Parents want to protect their children. The importance of family relationships and friendships is stressed throughout this cute storyline. The bond between a father and daughter is highlighted in a unique way in Hotel Transylvania. It is noteworthy that this story depicts a widowed man raising his daughter, allowing for alignment with family setups that are different from what is traditionally displayed in cartoons.
Another apparent lesson is that it takes a village. Drac gets by with a bit of help from his friends. Murray, Wayne, Frank and Griffin show that monsters value friendship just as much as humans do. You’ll be cheering them on throughout the movie as they work together. Eventually, Mavis realizes Johnny is her “zing,” a monster’s one true love. The group of friends works to protect Mavis and have fun in the process. The storyline is full of good messages and tons of humor.
Conclusion
Hotel Transylvania is an awesome family comedy that all ages will enjoy. The cast creates memorable characters, funny jokes and silly songs. The storyline will keep young children’s attention while entertaining older kids, teens, and adults. This is sure to be on repeat for a while! Consider yourself warned that your children will probably ask you to restart the movie the second it is finished.
