Hotel Transylvania (2012)

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

Director:

Genndy Tartakovsky

Writers:

Peter Baynham (screenplay), Robert Smigel (screenplay),

Stars:

Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adam Sandler	...	Dracula (voice)
Andy Samberg	...	Jonathan (voice)
Selena Gomez	...	Mavis (voice)
Kevin James	...	Frankenstein (voice)
Fran Drescher	...	Eunice (voice)
Steve Buscemi	...	Wayne (voice)
Molly Shannon	...	Wanda (voice)
David Spade	...	Griffin (voice)
CeeLo Green	...	Murray (voice)
Jon Lovitz	...	Quasimodo (voice)
Brian George	...	Suit of Armor (voice)
Luenell	...	Shrunken Heads (voice)
Brian Stack	...	Pilot (voice)
Chris Parnell	...	Fly (voice)
Jackie Sandler	...	Martha (voice)

Storyline

In 1895, Dracula builds a resort in Transylvania, hidden from the humans, to raise his beloved daughter Mavis in a safe environment. In the present days, the place is the Hotel Transylvania, where monsters bring their families to spend vacation far from the frightening humans. Dracula invites his friends - Frankenstein and his wife Eunice; Wayne and Wanda, the werewolves; Griffin, the invisible man; Murray, the mummy; the Bigfoot, among others - to celebrate the 118th birthday of Mavis. When the party is ready to start, the 21-year-old Jonathan is walking through the forest and stumbles at the hotel. Dracula sees Jonathan and disguises him as a monster to hide Jonathan from the guests. But Mavis also sees Jonathan and Dracula forces him to pose of a monster. Soon Mavis believes that Jonathan is the "zing" of her life despite the advices of her father about the humans.

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Plot Keywords:

monster | dracula | hotel | mummy | invisible man | 

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Taglines:

Even monsters need a vacation

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some rude humor, action and scary images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 September 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hotel Transilvanija

Box Office

Budget:

$85,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$42,522,194 (USA) (28 September 2012)

Gross:

$148,313,048 (USA) (15 February 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several characters resemble the actors who provide the voices.

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Goofs

Unlike many characters in the movie that were once human but later became monsters, Quasimodo (aka the Hunchback of Notre Dame) was never a monster but simply a human with a physical deformity.

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Quotes

Dracula: Hey you don't need a manikin!

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Connections

References Dracula (1931)

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Soundtracks

"The Zing"
Written by Robert Smigel Adam Sandler and Dennis White
Produced by 'Static Revenger'
Performed by Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Adam Sandler and Kevin James

User Reviews

Monsters Going Wild

Hotel Transylvania has a simple concept: classic campy monsters staying in a hotel where humans are not allowed because they think we're evil. It doesn't sound too fresh but it looks fun. Behind this concept is a father-daughter-relationship that seems to follow the footsteps of other great recent animated films. The result is, it's not getting there yet but it's still as delightful as it's suppose to be. It's one of those films that it's so crazy, you'll instantly like it. Most of the gags are clever and ridiculous. Overall, it's an endless fun entertainment.

Though, the film sometimes feels like a mediocre animated kids film. Generic family film elements are there but they are used in a different way. There is often slapstick and toilet humor but the gags are best when it's outrageously absurd. Every set pieces are swift, quirky, and exciting. The voices of the characters sound silly at glance but the actors made them pretty likable.

When the craziness slows down, there's a sweet bit of Dracula's relationship between Mavis and Jonathan, and some brooding. The drama is a little effective. It's not as strong as most recent animated films. It's more focused at being fun and hilarious. It's great when it stays to the roots of a cartoon like showing peculiar looking characters acting like lunatics. The best laughs are when the monsters are expressing their misanthropy in a ludicrously paranoid way, and when they're just making fun of each other. Mainstream pop culture song numbers kind of tone things down, but the song number at the end didn't affect the breathtaking and emotional climax.

Hotel Transylvania is good enough for the whole family even though it's raucous. Fans of the animation genre would enjoy this a lot more. Since it's directed by a cartoon expert, it contains a lot of absurd and exciting scenes that is similar to his shows. Although, some might expect something more since many animated films these days are deeper and powerful, leaving the old habits behind. Hotel Transylvania still has the heart but it's just not as compelling as the others. If you're in for the joys then this will give you a good time. My rating may be too high, but this my thing. I always enjoy this kind of animation.