Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Blu-ray Review
The Hotel Transylvania franchise does not go out with a bang with “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.”
“Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” is the fourth and alleged final installment in the animated film franchise. In this entry, Count Dracula plans on stepping down and handing over the hotel business to his daughter Mavis and her human husband Johnny, but he decides against it and makes up a lie because he fears Johnny will mess things up. Wanting to fit in, Johnny has himself transformed into a monster (a dragon to be exact) via a ray gun. Dracula attempts to turn him back into a human, but winds up turning himself into a human instead. As if that wasn’t enough, the ray gun’s effects turn Murray, Griffin, Frank and Wayne into non-monsters and a guinea pig (Gigi) into a monster. When the ray gun breaks, Dracula and Johnny are forced to venture to South America to find a special crystal for the ray gun in order to return to their normal selves. Along the way, they just might find a way to reconcile…or not.
After directing the first 3 entries, Genndy Tartakovsky hands over directorial duties to Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska. Tartakovsky is still involved with this 4th film, however, having created the story and co-written the script alongside Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo.
At its core, ‘Transformania’ does feel like one big farewell as the story embraces the family of characters moving on to a new chapter in their lives. Unfortunately, the story itself is rather lackluster. Surely there had to be a better idea proposed than a ray gun that changes the characters. Even that gimmicky plot feels like a big missed opportunity here as the writers do nothing with it. It’s all just a ploy to get Dracula and Johnny together so that these clashing individuals can come to an understanding. It sounds like a fuzzy and heartwarming adventure on paper and maybe it will be for some. Your mileage will certainly vary depending on your connection to the characters and the franchise. For myself, ‘Hotel’ is better when Johnny isn’t on screen as he is entirely obnoxious.
On the plus side, the animation by Sony Pictures Animation is the MVP here. The monster character designs, the complex sequences (the traffic, the towering dragon creating havoc), and the beautiful jungle landscapes are always eye-popping.
Perhaps the strangest story here is that both Adam Sandler and Kevin James do not voice Count Dracula and Frank this time around. Brian Hull and Brad Abrell do a serviceable job replacing them, but the movie does feel off without those big names reprising their characters.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? The colorful animation stuns in hi-def.
Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The often loud and busy film gets a suitably loud and busy 5.1 track.
Extras:
* Digital copy
* Sony trailers
* “Love Is Not Hard To Find” lyric video.
* “Monster Pets”- A brand new “Hotel Transylvania” animated short.
* “Monster Mash-Up: Making Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”- A brief 6 minute making of featurette with cast and crew interviews, film clips, story and character discussions, etc.
* “Hotel Transyl-Trivia” between Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg.
* “Monster Box Challenge”- Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez play a game.
* Commentary by Jennifer Huska, Derek Drymon, Lynn Hobson, and Alan Hawkins.
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