“Hotel Transylvania 2” is even funnier than the first one! How can you go wrong with song titles like, “Michael rowed the corpse ashore?” It offers serious, Halloween-type fun with puns like Dracula (Adam Sandler) uses, such as wanting his grandson to call him “Vampa.” His grandson, Dennis, speaks his first words, which are, of course, “Blah, blah, blah,” and Dracula reminds his daughter Mavis that he doesn’t say that phrase, he just reminds people he doesn’t say that phrase. In a comedic moment, a human spots him, asks for directions, and then tells Dracula he likes his chocolate cereal.
The movie starts off, appropriately, with creepy music and a stormy night, as it leads to the Hotel Transylvania. The plot revolves around Dracula waiting to see if his grandson Dennis grows fangs and becomes a vampire. If Dennis doesn’t get them by the time he’s five, then he will be a human for life. At this point, his fifth birthday is not far away. His mom, Mavis, and his dad, Jonathan, visit California with the idea of possibly moving there from Transylvania, an idea that Grandpa Dracula doesn’t like. The movie, presented in 3-D in many theaters, pops off the screen and would be an enjoyable experience for the kids. It is supposed to be a spoof on Dracula, Frankenstein, and all things scary, so it uses expressions a few times like, “Oh, my devil,” when someone is scared or surprised.
The images are a visual feast for the eyes, and the scary humor is delicious. It also has a moral: Dracula comes to realize that he will love his grandson no matter if he is a vampire, a human, or even a unicorn! We award the film our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for ages 12-plus. Let your imagination transport you back to the Hotel Transylvania for a second time. It is worth the trip and will provide some kicks and giggles.
