Film Review: HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA (2022): Somewhat Bland Animated Sequel Has Its Charming Moments

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Review

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska and starring Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Brian Hull, Fran Drescher, Brad Abrell, Tyler Blevins, Genndy Tartakovsky, Asher Bishop and Victoria Gomez.

In the fourth installment of the Hotel Transylvania series, the jokes aren’t as funny as they were in the previous films and the plot is not as clever as it was in the third film but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some fun to be had in the new animated film. Less demanding movie watchers may actually enjoy the (needlessly) complicated plot and endless series of zany situations. A major problem with the film is that the story line is too overstuffed with plot devices that, while occasionally clever, are also the markings of writers who are too creative for their own good. The previous three films worked because they were simple and entertaining. Nevertheless, despite Adam Sandler’s voice absence in the fourth picture, there are some wild situations that unfold one after another in a way younger viewers may adore.

As the film opens, Dracula (voice of Brian Hull) and his daughter Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez) are dancing to the song “Just the Two of Us.” Mavis soon overhears that Dracula is going to retire after running his hotel for 125 years. It seems clear that Dracula will leave the hotel to Mavis and her husband Johnny (voice of Andy Samberg). After Dracula converses with Johnny, it is learned that Johnny has plans for the hotel that Dracula doesn’t approve of so at a big upcoming announcement, Dracula instead tells his monster friends that the hotel is adding another bathroom to accommodate the large crowds. In shock, Mavis believes something is suspicious regarding her dad’s announcement. Indeed there is something wrong here. Dracula doesn’t have faith in Johnny.

Johnny ends up consulting Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan’s voice) to become a monster because Dracula tells him that he would have to be a monster to have a chance of getting the hotel. That, of course, is a lie but Van Helsing turns Johnny into a dragon with a zapper that, unfortunately, also zaps Dracula stripping him of his vampire powers. The zapper also hits monsters Frankenstein (Brad Abrell) and Griffin (the great voice of David Spade) among others turning them into regular people. So, Dracula must go behind Mavis’ back to the Amazon rain forest with Johnny to change everybody back into who or what they are supposed to be.

Mavis eventually learns of her father’s deceit and rushes to the Amazon to help locate Johnny and her dad and find the crystal that will serve to zap them back to their true selves. It’s all wildly off-the-wall although there are some cute moments here and there such as in scenes that portray the bond that develops between Dracula and Johnny on their travels.

Hull is solid as a voice replacement for Adam Sandler and is actually a pretty reliable Dracula. Samberg and Gomez are also fine as the voices of Johnny and Mavis, respectively. It’s not the voices that make Hotel Transylvania: Transformania less than stellar, it’s the convoluted plot which seems as if it was made up on the spur of the moment. Everything that happens seems improvised rather than scripted which is weird to say for an animated movie but the story is just not as strong as it was in the other three previous films. It’ll probably be O.K. for kids to see the story line unfold even though the plot seems to be occurring haphazardly but older viewers will expect more.

One of the standout voices in the supporting cast is that of Fran Drescher who voices Eunice, Frankenstein’s wife in the film. Other voice talents on board include Kathryn Hahn, Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon who are all decent and have recognizable voices that are fun to listen to.

There were some sweet moments in this new animated picture. It also has a nice message of accepting family members for who they truly are. That message is important and elevates the film a bit above your basic bland animated film. Particularly enjoyable on the comedy side is the way Eunice criticizes Frankenstein’s more human look and she prefers him as a monster with his creature haircut which is actually pretty funny.

The resolution of the major plot issue is also rather sloppy such as in the scene when the crew do find the crystal to turn Johnny (who has become an evil monster) back to normal. I won’t tell you what happens but it seemed like there was some credibility lacking regarding the quality of the crystal that helps the zapper work. Everything works out as the plot requires it to rather than how it should. In a kids’ film, though, you can’t ask for the same plausibility and consistency as you can in a regular film. I understand that.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania has a cute ending but feels a little rushed. Still, younger people may enjoy it a lot more than I did even though it’s doubtful they will find it lives up to the standards set by the previous movies in the franchise. But, don’t let me be a party crasher. You will know if you are the targeted audience for this picture and you may actually find its zaniness works for you. If it does, you may just have a good time watching this fourth entry in the hugely successful animated series.

Rating: 6/10

Leave your thoughts on this Hotel Transylvania: Transformania review and the film below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more film reviews can visit our Movie Review Page, our Movie Review Twitter Page, and our Movie Review Facebook Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Flipboard.