Like father, hate sun

Film review: Hotel Transylvania

MANILA, Philippines -  Back in the heyday of Hammer Films and its run on Dracula films, it would not be unusual to find sequels and extensions of Dracula-lore predicated on concepts like Son of Dracula. Well, unlike those films that were pegged against a “like father, like son” premise; Sony Animation turns that concept on its proverbial “neck” and gives us an exuberant father-daughter tandem in Hotel Transylvania. Yes, it’s Count Dracula, doting father to his 118-year-old daughter, Mavis. They both hate the sun, and like any teenage daughter reaching maturity, Mavis wants to spread her bat-wings, and discover the world beyond HT, the hotel/haven the Count had created to keep Mavis safe from humans.

So what you essentially have is a mother-orphaned daughter coming-of-age story, and the father just happens to be Dracula, as voiced by Adam Sandler. Selena Gomez takes on the chores of Mavis, and the dynamics between the two carry the charm of the film. Rich with humor and sight gags, this is one girl-teenager angst story that works for all ages and gender. I watched the preview with two of my sons, aged 17 and 13, and they both had a great time. The more adult male bloggers seated next to us were laughing out loud, thoroughly enjoying the “monster parade.”

Thanks to the hotel idea, we have all the different types of monsters and inhabitants of horror films trooping to the hotel to join the Count in throwing a birthday party for Mavis. From Frankenstein, to the Mummy, to the Invisible Man, Quasimodo, zombies, the Blob, witches, shrunken heads, fleas and the Invisible Man, they all share the spotlight in this outrageous cartoon. Favorite among these monsters for my own “monsters” was the Wolfman (voice of Steve Buscemi). And look out for the creature that repeatedly says “I didn’t do that” — another memorable support character!

That monsters would play Bingo, or do aqua aerobics, would play musical instruments, and that a father would lie and cover up truth in the name of over-protecting his motherless daughter; these are just some of the very mundane and human characteristics that become rich sources of humor precisely because they’re done by such creatures. That the Wolfman can’t deny his nature, and ends up with a pack of kid/cubs who would make the Tasmanian Devil look comatose; or despite the years, still know how to wipe out a flock of sheep — watch out for these hilarious sequences.

I must confess that I don’t generally like Adam Sandler films, but as here, he was providing the voice and staying in character as the Count, this one was a winner! And the ending Hollywood “rap” party was a treat, and grand finale to this entertaining animated film.