Hotel Transylvania

Even though animated films are usually a summer staple, fall and winter months are also offing their fair share of them, too. We just saw "Frankenweenie", this December, we'll have "Monster's Inc. in 3D", so why not have "Hotel Transylvania" to sink your teeth into?

This is Hotel Transylvania! It's Dracula's lavish four-star resort where monsters and their families can visit and feel safe where there are no humans to contend with. On a special weekend, Dracula (Adam Sandler) has invited some of the world's most notorious monsters-- Frankenstein (Kevin James) and his wife, Eunice (Fran Drescher), the Mummy (CeeLo Green), the Invisible Man (David Spade), a family of Werewolves, Wayne (Steve Buscemi), Wanda (Molly Shannon) and kids, and more, to celebrate his daughter Mavis' 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all these legendary monsters is no problem-- but his world seemingly comes to an end when a human, Jonathan (Andy Samberg) stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis (Selena Gomez).

Others to round out the cast are Jon Lovitz as Quasimodo, Brian George as Suit of Armor, and Luenell as Shrunken Heads.

This was paced well by director, Genndy Tartakovsky ("Dexter's Laboratory Ego Trip" (TV movie) '99, and a ton of TV). It was written by Peter Baynham and Robert Smigel based on a story by Todd Durham, Dan Hageman, and Kevin Hageman. One of the best things of this film is that Sandler has no creative control over it like he does when his production company HappyMadison Productions are involved. This is a Columbia/Sony Pictures Animation Production. He just acts, which is best suited for him. He also didn't have anything to do with the writing, however the writing wasn't bad, but could have used some polishing. It just seemed like a number of skits were created and the attempt to connect these skits wasn't spot on-- needed a bit more cohesiveness.

This was a fun and entertaining flick with homages to all those old horror films we have grown to love. Buscemi as Wayne is especially a hoot. So, other than a few choppy places in script, this certainly has all the elements any animated flick can give you all in a 3D/90+ minute time slot.

Out of 4 stars: 3                     Rated: PG                    93mins.