Nothing Special

Rating: 5/10 (5 December 2012)

During the first 15-20 minutes or so, I was regretting this film, thinking that it was going to be an unbearably long couple of hours. There is a stretch where it is basically just a rapid fire sequence of cheap, uber-cliché monster/Halloween character jokes. A bunch of characters playing their stereotypes for all they are worth, and nothing more.
Fortunately, things do pick up and there actually is a story. That was a relief for me. The last 2/3 of the film is fairly entertaining. Still obnoxious, and certainly not all that original, but entertaining. There is some emotional heart to it, and uh, yeah. The ending, as the plot is wrapped up and before the credits roll, is just over the top ridiculous, so much so that even the most cynical viewer probably cannot resist a smile. The credits themselves are fun, as well.
Is Hotel Transylvania a "good" film? I have a hard time going that far. Did it really need to be made, i.e. does it add anything of particular value to our cultural experience? Resounding "No". But is it really all that bad? No; it is fairly harmless, and like similar films, decent viewing for children, with a good message and lots of fun, bright colors. That is about it.