In a world where humans fear monsters and zombies, enterprising vampire Count Dracula (Adam Sandler) builds a secret castle getaway for monsters from all over the world to relax and have a screaming-good time.
Dracula has invited his monster friends to the hotel for daughter Mavis’ (Selena Gomez) 118th birthday bash. Jonathan, a human (Andy Samberg), stumbles across the castle. He takes an interest in Mavis. Now, Dracula must choose between the safety of the castle and his daughter’s happiness. With a fully booked hotel and a big party to plan, this is one hairy problem to solve.
From Sony Pictures Animation, Hotel Transylvania is not your typical animated monster movie. There are a few frightening moments, but the fright element is mostly treated humorously. Instead, what takes center stage are the colorful characters and great comedy. The movie has some hilarious moments, great visuals and incredible voice talents. It’s a movie the whole family will enjoy.
Hotel Transylvania confronts the concept of fearing those who are different. Humans are afraid of monsters, and the monsters are afraid of humans. They base their fears on assumptions made about each other. While this is a good message for children, it depicts monsters as misunderstood. In other words, it presents the villains as the victims.
With Halloween approaching, it’s no surprise to see children’s movies featuring vampires and mummies, but it’s up to parents to discern whether this content is appropriate for their children.
While Hotel Transylvania is an enjoyable movie with an ultimately positive (though somewhat romantic) message, the soft-horror theme is not one to ignore. Singing and dancing monsters may seem harmless, but introducing the occult to young children may not be a wise choice. Movieguide recommends applying some cautious media wisdom to Hotel Transylvania.
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