Critics rating: 3 Stars

Cast :  Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, Keegan-Michael Key, Molly Shannon, Fran Drescher,  Mel Brooks.

Direction: Genndy Tartakovsky

Produced: Michelle Murdocca

Written: Robert Smigel, Adam Sandler

Genre: Animation

Duration: 89 Mins

Seven years after the first film, where 118-year-old vampire Mavis (Selena Gomez) and human slacker backpacker Johnny (Andy Samberg) ‘zinged’ hard and fast in love, they find themselves married and pregnant. When they break the news to Mavis’ father Dracula (Adam Sandler), the 539-year-old count is sent into a frantic tizzy. He dives down into reading “What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Vampire” and is dismayed when Mavis says that their son, Dennis (Asher Blinkoff), could be human.

The child’s ultimate form is a source of much conflict since it determines whether he would continue to live in the world of monsters at Hotel Transylvania or with Johnny’s parents in California.

Dracula does his best to train his grandson into becoming a formidable, old-school vampire and checking his teeth for any signs of fangs. Mavis is convinced that the world outside the hotel is better for her son. She even goes scouting with Johnny for a better life in California, complete with SPF and a sun hat, not without a promise from Dracula to video call. “Do you know how to video call?” she asks. He replies, “Yes, yes, with the camera and the buttons and the agony”, all while waiting for her to leave so that Dennis’ indoctrination begins.

The oddball monsters act as accessories and second fiddles to Dracula’s sneaky intentions, all to comic effect and exaggerated silliness. But you can see that they are mostly out of touch with their nefarious skill sets. “We don’t need to kill anyone anymore,” protests Wayne (Steve Buscemi), the werewolf, “we have pop tarts.”

Hotel Transylvania 2 works if you anticipate a kiddie film and not a mass-appealing outing like Inside Out. It is a step-up from the sequel and a very imaginative turn with better use of silences and the characters in that universe (especially the Dracula GPS with irreverent instructions).

It has better moments in this film than the forced comical camaraderie of the previous film and builds a better setting on the foundation of the previous film. Also, it’s great to have the most of the previous voice cast and characters retained in the film. For the earlier audience, it is a fun throwback.

Nowhere close to the league of the other good animation movies out there but with a lot of heart, Hotel Transylvania 2 will work for the little moppets out there but not for the cynical of spirit. Embrace the corniness and abundance of cuteness and you will be rewarded.