Review: "Hotel Transylvania"

Film And DVD Reviews by Phil Boatwright

CREDITS: Voices of Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Andy Samberg. Columbia Pictures. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. 9/28/12

FILM SYNOPSIS: Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a human boy discovers the resort and falls for the count's teen-aged daughter.

REVIEW: Because moviegoers are bombarded with things that go bump in the night, much like they are overwhelmed by entertainment that is incredibly secular and often crude and obscene in nature, I want to be sensitive to those parents who think we shouldn’t watch anything spooky. To them I say, okay, we’re dealing with a cartoon featuring Dracula and the other classic horror stars, but I don’t think anybody is going to get lured into the dark side by viewing this 3D comedy.

It’s actually about an overprotective parent and his learning to trust his child, and not seeing just the faults of mankind, but their better side. It’s also a film about sacrificing in the name of love. At one point the Count almost dies as he is willing to go out into the sunlight in order to do something for his child’s happiness. Though I hesitate to call it deep, you can find metaphor in the story about accepting others different from yourself.

The film is often witty, though admittedly some of the gags are bloodless – many of them, actually. But the pacing is hyper, which should keep the little ones settled in their seats. And by little ones, I mean children of the age where sudden jolts and the sights of cartoon movie monsters don’t send them into fits (which did happen to a couple of tiny tikes at the screening).

The 3D is well used (unnecessary, but efficient) and the art direction – the look of the film – is terrific (award worthy).

Is Hotel Transylvania in the same league with Bolt, WALL-E, or UP? No. Not even close. But it is a fun Saturday matinee.

PG (A couple of crude jokes and visuals, like one guy with his finger in his nose and a flatulence joke to end all flatulence jokes, but overall the crude quotient is minimal; Cartoon violence and some visuals may disturb very little ones, like the assembling of the Frankenstein creature; an angry mod sets fire to zombies, but it’s fake, as the Count is trying to steer his daughter away from humans; It’s actually about an overprotective parent and his learning to trust his child, and not just see the faults of mankind, but to see their better side. It’s also a film about sacrificing in the name of love. At one point the Count almost dies as he is willing to go out into the sunlight in order to do something for his child’s happiness. Though I hesitate to call it deep, you can find metaphor in the story about accepting others different than yourself).

Besides providing a monthly column for Baptist Press, he reviews films for www.previewonline.org. He also is a regular contributor to "The World and Everything In it," a weekly radio program from WORLD News Group, which also publishes WORLD Magazine.

For information about Phil Boatwright, go to moviereporter.com.

DEFINITIONS

Profanity – God’s name followed by a curse or the abusive use of Christ’s name

Obscenity – a swear word, indecent language

Expletive – minor curse words such as damn or hell

Crudity – vulgar, often coarse situations or dialogue dealing with bodily functions

Adult Subject Matter – situations or subjects unsuitable for or difficult to comprehend by children