'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' Review: No Sandler, No Problem
PG: Some action and rude humor including cartoon nudity
Runtime: 1 Hr and 26 Minutes
Production Companies: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Media Rights Capital
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Directors: Jennifer Kluska, Derek Drymon
Writers: Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo, Genndy Tartakovsky
Cast: Brian Hull, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Fran Drescher, Brad Abrell, Asher Blinkoff
Release Date: January 14, 2022
Prime Video Only
When Van Helsing's mysterious invention, the "Monsterfication Ray", goes haywire, Drac and his monster pals are all transformed into humans, and Johnny becomes a monster! In their new mismatched bodies, Drac, stripped of his powers, and an exuberant Johnny, loving life as a monster, must team up and race across the globe to find a cure before it's too late, and before they drive each other crazy. With help from Mavis and the hilariously human Drac Pack, the heat is on to find a way to switch themselves back before their transformations become permanent.
It’s been nearly a decade since Sony Pictures Animation’s most profitable franchise to date, Hotel Transylvania, made its debut. It was Dexter’s Lab and Samurai Jack creator Genndy Tartakovsky’s feature film directorial debut and it was the start of Adam Sandler’s comeback era. Here we are at the fourth and final entry of this monster mash franchise where two of the major key players who gave these movies their legs skedaddled. No Genndy to direct (though he executive produced and did screenplay draft) and no Adam Sandler as Drac. What a shame because this is possibly the best sequel out of the mediocre predecessors.
Hotel Transylvania's art style made a gradual evolution with each entry, being more expressive than the last as far as designs and movement go. They’ve made it clear that this was a zany “animator’s movie” that focuses solely on garnering laughs from the visual gags and fast-paced motion. While I felt it was wasted in Summer Vacation, which was a transparent cash grab, the concept for Transformania is inventive enough that it gives the artists freedom to let loose on the weird and goofy expressions. In terms of style and animation quality, this is the Hotel T at its absolute finest. This entry is directed by Jennifer Kluska (DC Superhero Girls) and Derek Drymon (Spongebob Squarepants, the good era) who both do a good job showcasing their talents with Genndy’s baby. I can't shake the feeling that other critics will find this entry to emulate Genndy’s style, but I found slivers of the directors’ previous work in some of the best action sequences. Kluska directed that DC Superhero Girls short that played before Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and the high-octane swiftness in its animation is present during some of the action sequences in Hotel T. Transformania shines best when it gets to the titular sequence of Johnny and the Drac Pac turning into monsters/humans. The animation is spectacular as the animators go off with the squash and stretch movement to make it breezy and exhilarating. I adored the visual style, for it’s the best in the series where characters are as cartoonish in movement and expressive in nearly every single frame. Even if the jokes don’t land as they should, you’ll be enamored by how incredible the animation on the transformation sequences is.
While being the fourth installment, the story feels like a direct sequel to the first movie where it focuses primarily on the relationship between Drac and Johnny. On the night of Hotel T’s 125th anniversary, Drac is about to announce his retirement and give the hotel to his daughter Mavis and son-in-law Johnny. Since Johnny is immature, annoying as hell, and regressed in character as much as Sid the sloth in the Ice Age movies, Drac’s reluctance to give Johnny the keys gets the best of him. So he gives him a b.s. excuse about how monster real estate transactions can only go to monsters. To make Drac proud and get those damn keys, Johnny goes to Van Helsing, who has a device that’ll turn him into a monster. A series of Rube Goldberg machine-type chaos ensues and Drac becomes human. The two have to trek to South America to find the device and revert to themselves.
While Adam Sandler isn’t around this time, YouTube impressionist (and now legitimate voice actor) Brian Hull –– that guy who sang “Let It Go” while impersonating various Disney characters in one shot –– does a good enough job breathing life and charm to the character. While he doesn’t have the warmth that Sandler did, the comedic chemistry between him and Andy Samberg works.
By turning the format into an adventure flick, this entry is much better paced than the predecessors and the jokes had me laughing more than usual. Whereas the last movie had me cringing ample times, this story feels more inspired, with action set pieces and designs to help Hotel Transylvania go out with a bang.
Transformania is a marginal improvement from its past few sequels in nearly every regard and yet, it still manages to retain the cringe that has been present in each entry thus far. All these Hotel Transylvania movies try so hard to be hip and current for kids in such a desperate manner. The first movie had Drac rapping, the sequel had random dancing montages, the third film’s macarena climax went on forever, and here you got the cha-cha slide. There’s a sequence where the characters dance to the cha-cha slide with a weird emphasis on a thankless monster who happens to be voiced by the gamer Ninja (because he’s hot with the kids right now). It’s very brief, but it feels as if it goes on forever.
While I feel proud of Brian Hull for making the jump into a studio feature as a lead, he still feels like a replacement. Adam Sandler’s absence is heavily felt in the film and Hull’s voice just doesn’t compare to the real thing. The lack of gruffness and warmth with Drac’s voice is at times very distracting, primarily when it gets to the sentimental cues of the movie. 90% of the voice cast returned but since you don’t have Adam Sandler and Kevin James (I don’t know why), you feel as if integral pieces that made this series whole are missing. WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVEN SAID THAT! WHO AM I?!
While there was a passage of time to add new chapters in these characters’ lives, you don’t feel like they’ve grown much. Johnny is still the same hippie he was in the first film and his immaturity is at an all-time high. His presence in the sequels was reduced significantly, but he’s a primary character now and the writers just ham up his loud, abrasive nature as if you’re going through the motions of the first movie all over again.
While it’s another entry that emphasizes hijinks above anything else, Hotel T’s final outing is a beautifully animated and fun installment for the family. Though the lack of integral components that gave this series its heft is felt, the top-notch zany style in its direction and the fast-paced story manage to make this the best sequel in the whole franchise. Nothing can top the o.g. Hotel T, but Transformania gets the job done.
