Hotel Transylvania 2 Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Drac and the gang are back in this sequel to the mediocre first Hotel Transylvania, which proved that not all classic monsters are to be afraid of. 

Genre: Animation / Comedy / Fantasy

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

Cast: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, Asher Blinkoff, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Fran Drescher & Nick Offerman

Run Time: 89 min.

US Release: 25 September 2015

UK Release: 16 October 2015

German Release: 16 October 2015

Genndy Tartakovsky, the epic creator behind Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Sym-Bionic Titan, returns to direct Hotel Transylvania 2. He also wrote for Cow and Chicken and The Powerpuff Girls, as well as directing the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated micro-series.

With such a great reputation, this animated sequel should be good, right? Sadly, that’s not quite the case. Much like the first Hotel Transylvania, this sequel lands somewhere in the middle. It’s not terrible by any means, but it also lacks the wit and depth other animated features have, especially when compared to Pixar’s brilliant Inside Out from the same year.

The story begins with Mavis' (Selena Gomez) and Johnny’s (Andy Samberg) wedding day. Although Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) is happy for his daughter, he fears she might move out of the hotel to live in the human world with Johnny. Meanwhile, the hotel has lifted its monsters-only policy and is now welcoming human guests. Four years later, Mavis and Johnny have a little boy named Dennis (Asher Blinkoff), whom Drac adores — but he’s worried that his half-human, half-vampire grandson is showing no signs of vampirism.

When Mavis decides to visit Johnny’s family in California, “Vampa” Drac seizes the chance to put Dennis through a monster boot camp to awaken his vampire side. As expected, things don’t exactly go as planned.

Although I don’t think this movie is particularly brilliant, I also don’t believe the hate it received from critics is entirely justified. The fact that it currently sits at 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, with nearly half the critics rating it as rotten, feels unfair, and I can’t help but suspect that some of that backlash is directed more at Adam Sandler than the film itself. The truth is, this is one of the better Sandler-led projects, full of heart and perfectly suited for a younger audience.

Like I said before, the movie does have its issues. It relies heavily on old horror clichés and overused, childish jokes. It’s clearly aimed at small children rather than adults, and parents will likely struggle to stay entertained. One of the biggest issues lies in the first twenty minutes, as the story rushes through roughly seven years of events leading up to Dennis’s fifth birthday.

My biggest complaint, however, is the ending. The film spends its runtime pushing the message that it’s okay to be different (or, in this case, “normal”). Without spoiling anything, the conclusion completely undermines that moral by revealing something about a character that renders the entire point meaningless.

That said, Tartakovsky’s sequel isn’t without charm. The fast-paced story keeps things lively, and its heart lies in some genuinely sweet, old-school family values. Especially around Halloween, this makes for a fun and cosy family watch.

There are aspects of these classic monsters that I truly appreciated, like how they’re tired of scaring and hunting humans, and how Johnny’s open-mindedness makes him the perfect bridge between worlds. Mavis’s curiosity about the human world also adds a nice emotional touch.

My favourite character, though, has to be little Dennis. Not only is he adorable, but he’s also a smart and fearless kid who sees past the monsters’ appearances.

One big misstep, however, is the late introduction of Drac’s father, Vlad. He appears in the last twenty minutes, and the movie suddenly expects us to care about him. If his character had been introduced earlier, audiences could’ve formed a stronger emotional connection.

Visually, the animation is top-notch. Like the first film, Hotel Transylvania 2 depicts its classic monsters respectfully, balancing horror and comedy beautifully. The film is vibrant, well-directed, and full of playful energy.

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Verdict: Hotel Transylvania 2 has plenty of heart, but it didn’t manage to entertain me on a higher level. Kids will adore the silly monsters and slapstick humour, but apart from one or two gags aimed at adults, parents might struggle to sit through it. Compared to the first film, this sequel feels a bit weaker, earning a 6.0 out of 10 from me. I’d recommend renting or streaming it for a family movie night, but it’s not really worth the trip to the cinema.

So, which Hotel Transylvania did you enjoy more? Let me know in the comments below! My next review will be for Wes Craven’s Stranger in Our House, so stay tuned for that one tomorrow!