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.
