Overall Thoughts: Entertaining finale doesn't quite reach the original's heights, but it does it's job fairly well.
10 years ago, I went to see the original Hotel Transylvania in theaters with my family. It was a fun experience and it's a movie that's warmed up on me even more as the years go on. And, it's a movie I still revisit almost every Halloween. Since then, there's been two sequels, and they were both steps down from the original. Can a fourth (and presumably final) film buck that trend? It's something that has surprisingly (and successfully) happened before (a la Ice Age).
10 years ago, I went to see the original Hotel Transylvania in theaters with my family. It was a fun experience and it's a movie that's warmed up on me even more as the years go on. And, it's a movie I still revisit almost every Halloween. Since then, there's been two sequels, and they were both steps down from the original. Can a fourth (and presumably final) film buck that trend? It's something that has surprisingly (and successfully) happened before (a la Ice Age).
As I finished watching Transformania, I would say for the most part, this does manage to improve on the previous sequels. And a lot of that is due to the story choices here. For one, it's a fairly creative premise idea for the franchise. Freaky Friday with monsters and humans (Johnny hit it right on the head there), it's interesting. And, even better, the film doesn't quite lose sight of the heart at its' center either. Maybe a few more serious elements here and there would have been appreciative, but the ending is pretty touching (and nails a couple of pretty good surprises, too). Another thing this story does better is that it does (thankfully) shy away from the more "sermonized messaging" of the last film.
That being said, the fact that Adam Sandler and Kevin James both didn't return here is startling. They headlined the original films (along with Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg, who thankfully do return here), but ditched on the last movie. I really don't understand why they would do that. Famous YouTuber Brian Hull comes on board to voice Dracula, and Brad Abrell steps in for Frankenstein. They both have moments where they do a great job stepping in, but it is obvious at other points. However, I won't deny that this is an awesome opportunity for Hull.
Gomez and Samberg are still game here, and are given great moments in their performances. David Spade, Fran Drescher (who's given much more to do here than in the last two movies!), Keegan Michael-Key, Steve Buscemi and Kathryn Hahn (fresh off WandaVision) are all given time to shine as well. It's also refreshing this movie didn't really have new characters to introduce. Instead, they decided to focus on developing the characters they had, which I thought was a pretty smart move.
The animation is effortlessly cartoony, bouncy and expressive, if not even more so from its' predecessors. That leads to the film's only real flaw. The film is often a little too manic in its pacing and scripting. While it does slow down a couple of times, it's often way too overdone. And some other recurring gags (the real truth behind the Invisible Man for example) don't work too well. Director Derek Drymon worked on the earlier episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants, and his comedic influence is felt here quite a bit.
Of course, with this being the last film, does it all end in a good place? I would argue it ends fairly satisfyingly, with a little bit of a shock thrown in for good measure (don't want to spoil anything). And like the prior movies, the film ends with an entertaining hand-drawn bit reminiscent of the first three films' director Genndy Tartakovsky (he took on an executive producing role for this final movie).
Ultimately, I am relieved that Tartakovsky chose the right directors to finish this franchise out. Because, while it doesn't quite recapture the original's memorable tone and story, Transformania concludes the Hotel Transylvania series on a zany, occasionally sweet, and solid note.
Grade: B
Is this movie family-friendly? Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is rated PG for "some action and rude humor - including cartoon nudity." That last asterisk definitely is a content caveat here. When the monster/human ray hits the Invisible Man, it reveals his naked body. We mostly see his naked cartoon backside on a handful of occasions, and there's a few jokes made about it too. Meanwhile, Frankenstein's human form becomes a vain individual obsessed with how he looks (we see him lounging shirtless and making smolders at the camera to weird music). Johnny's monster transformation scene could scare a few younger viewers (as well as some firebreathing). Several moments of slapstick peril that involve characters getting hurt (but not deathly so apparently). A dangerous third act involves a giant monster that nearly does everyone in. A large building is destroyed as well. Mulitple characters lie. A quick close-up of a skeleton's pelvis is meant as an innuendo for adults. A couple of light bathroom jokes, and some name-calling. In the end, like the prior films, families with 7 year olds and up might be fine here.
Grade: B
Is this movie family-friendly? Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is rated PG for "some action and rude humor - including cartoon nudity." That last asterisk definitely is a content caveat here. When the monster/human ray hits the Invisible Man, it reveals his naked body. We mostly see his naked cartoon backside on a handful of occasions, and there's a few jokes made about it too. Meanwhile, Frankenstein's human form becomes a vain individual obsessed with how he looks (we see him lounging shirtless and making smolders at the camera to weird music). Johnny's monster transformation scene could scare a few younger viewers (as well as some firebreathing). Several moments of slapstick peril that involve characters getting hurt (but not deathly so apparently). A dangerous third act involves a giant monster that nearly does everyone in. A large building is destroyed as well. Mulitple characters lie. A quick close-up of a skeleton's pelvis is meant as an innuendo for adults. A couple of light bathroom jokes, and some name-calling. In the end, like the prior films, families with 7 year olds and up might be fine here.
