[Fresh on 4K] ‘HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA’ – an unnecessary but decent sequel, disc contains fun extras for kids

Compared to its predecessors, 'TRANSFORMANIA' feels like a lazy straight-to-video journey. It’s easily the weakest entry in the series but also harmless. You can’t ignore how it makes you smile and how the special features are fun.

Preston Barta // Features Editor

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA

Rated PG, 88 min.
Now available to purchase on Blu-ray and Digital HD.

When Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation came out, it felt like an excellent way to wrap up the animated monster narrative. Its climatic DJ battle produced good vibrations, united enemies as friends, and put lots of love in the air. It was sweet.

But now, like Toy Story 4, we have a new conclusion in the kid-friendly series. And also like Toy Story 4, it brings everyone (mostly) back to explore similar themes that barely take us anywhere fresh or unique. While one wishes it would tackle more real topics (like maybe human character Johnny’s fear of not living long enough to keep up with his vampiric family’s growth), Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (try getting your kids to say that without getting tongue-tied) remains a silly creep-fest that produces some good laughs.

This marks the first movie in the franchise not to be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (who’s only credited here as a co-writer). It’s also the first film not to feature Adam Sandler’s deliciously entertaining voice as Count Dracula and Kevin James as Frankenstein. (Soundalikes Brian Hull and Brad Abrell take over for reasons unknown.) A lot of value is lost in their absence, but the main reason Transformania dips is mostly due to its lackluster story.

It has the framework to produce the giggles from front to back: Johnny (voiced by Andy Samberg) worries that he’ll never live up to what Drac expects from someone married to his daughter (Selena Gomez). That’s when Johnny’s attention is tractor-beamed into one of Van Helsing’s latest inventions: a device that transforms a human into a monster, or a monster into a human. So, get ready for Johnny to turn into a big-toothed dragon creature and Drac into a pasty, balding man with a dad bod. (“It’s like Freaky Friday but on a Tuesday.”)

So, about 15 minutes in, the humor picks up momentum. What each of the monster characters morphs into is admittedly funny even if a bit cheap. (David Spade’s Invisible Man becomes a completely nude, Larry Fine-like dude, and that lit up the Internet during its Prime Video release last year.)

Despite the jokes, the story feels more of the same. Characters seem to be relearning lessons when there’s a golden opportunity to go beyond the obvious. So, why not shake it up by asking some genuine questions about mortality? (Hey, even Twilight did it.) Instead, the storytellers spoon-feed you some low-hanging fruit.

Compared to its predecessors, Transformania feels like a lazy straight-to-video journey. It’s easily the weakest entry in the series but also harmless. You can’t ignore how it makes you smile. (My son laughed out loud a few times and stayed locked in, so it earns points for that.)

Grade: B-

Johnny (Andy Samberg) being zapped to turn into a monster by Van Helsing in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA.

Special Features:

The great thing about disc extras for family-friendly movies is they don’t come in short supply, and they’re often engaging for kids. Just try watching special features for another movie; your children will walk out of the room so fast from boredom. A filmmaker’s commentary may not be their speed, but making-of featurettes, short films (or mini-movies, in this case), and sit-down interviews/games are entertaining and insightful. So, that’s a plus for this disc!