Friday, October 23, 2015

Hotel Transylvania 2

DIRECTOR:  Genndy Tartakovsky  LEAD CAST: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg,Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Fran Drescher, Mel Brooks  SCREENPLAY: Adam Sandler  WRITER: Robert Smigel  MUSIC: Mark Mothersbaugh  PRODUCER: Michelle Murdocca  FILM EDITOR: Catherine Apple  GENRE: Comedy, Animation, Family, Fantasy  PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Michael Kurinsky  ART DIRECTOR: Steve Lumley  PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Sony Pictures Animation, Sony Pictures Digital, Columbia Pictures, LStar Capital  DISTRIBUTORS: Andes Film, Columbia Pictures, Fundamental Films, Sony Pictures Releasing, United International Pictures. Universal Pictures, Warner Bros Entertainment, Westec Media Ltd.  LANGUAGE: English  LOCATION:  United States RUNNING TIME:  1 hr. &29 mins.
Technical assessment: 3.5
Moral assessment: 3
CINEMA Rating: V13
Hotel Transylvania has gone through several changes since Johnny first came into it—for one, the hotel is now open to human guests.  The movie opens with the wedding of Mavis and Johnny (Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg). Years later, Mavis and Johnny will have a baby boy, Dennis, whose lack of any vampire abilities worries his grandfather, Dracula (Adam Sandler) that he might be a human, and with that, Mavis and her family might leave Hotel Transylvania  to protect Dennis. So when Mavis and Johnny leave to visit Johnny's parents, Dracula finds the opportunity and calls his friends to train Dennis in the way of the monster—in the hope that he is one.
Hotel Transylvania 2 has managed to maintain its charm and comedic feel from its previous installment. The premise is still pretty interesting although maybe quite worn-out for a vampire-falls-in-love-with-a- human plot. The coming of the new addition to the family gave the story an interesting twist and angle. However, the film has the tendency to be quite under structured that it lacks cohesiveness. The characters are interesting and all the voices seem to be enjoying their part. But there are features that seem to be unnecessary in plot development (such as the break dancing) although it has to be there because of its adherence to randomness.  The film is able to drive home a point and it cannot be denied that it is still a delight to watch especially for the young and the young at heart.
Hotel Transylvania 2 presents a thesis against discrimination of any kind. The differences between humans and vampires are used as a metaphor to represent various kinds of discrimination on a local and global vantage point. The message against discrimination is very strong in the movie: that one should accept the other no matter how different—all creations are considered equal—and no one should be discriminated against by the color of their skin, gender, or by their gender preference. Acceptance, tolerance and equality are the big messages of the film. In between the laughter and the thrills, these messages echo up to the point of overselling the values of family, friendship, and marriage. Paradoxically, this vampire movie tells its audience to love and accept one’s child no matter how odd his or her choices may be. At the end of it all, a father’s love and a family’s love for one another springs eternal. And yes, love is love, and even vampires are capable of it. But watch out, such paradox may create confusion for the very young and the very theme of vampires would need guidance from adults since the film’s target market is the very young audiences.