A short time on from the events of the first film, Hotel Transylvania 2 sees Dracula (Adam Sandler) wanting the monster half of his new grandson to make an appearance. He comes up with a plan, where Jonathan (Andy Samberg) will take Mavis (Selena Gomez) away on a holiday, and Drac and the boys will “scare the fangs” out of the little one, and as a result, Mavis will never want to leave the hotel and go live in sunny California.
The film is an utter delight, with all sorts of delightful monsters to thrill the kids (adults should know, these are fun thrills, and not scary ones). The many little jokes will keep the adults amused, and the story is a treasure, exploring the nuances of family, and what makes a person, whether a “mixed” family of human and monster, or otherwise. It shows that family is everything, and love conquers all.
While there is a lesson learnt, this is not forced on audiences. Instead they are left to enjoy the adventure, and experiences shared by the “old school” monsters, in a world where the old rules no longer apply. This in turn, mirrors the world and youth of today. Gone are the days where everything was plain and simple. Now, rules have taken over, and even monsters need to keep up with the times (hilariously manifested, in part, as Drac tries to use a mobile phone).
The plot is not overly complex, while still being incredibly engrossing. As far as family movies go, this is a textbook example, and will be loved by all. The voice acting is well cast, and the animation superb. Hotel Transylvania 2 is a family film, and a ton of fun, to while away an afternoon in the school holidays.
Hotel Transylvania 2 opens Friday 2 October 2015 in South Africa.