Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018) Review
2:18 PM
He's going to need a vacation after this vacation.
As a big Selena Gomez fan, I was always going to rush out to see Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation as soon as it hit UK cinemas. Gomez remains my favourite thing about the franchise and her character Mavis is often this film's only watchable character. This third instalment takes place outside of the hotel and for that reason, it feels like a distant cousin to the first two; if Tartakovsky's style was not so distinct, this film (mainly its story) could be tacked on to any low-brow animated franchise. Hotel Transylvania 2 remains my favourite entry. I am biased to like these films and even I struggled at times to find anything to like. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation is very child-friendly, isolating older viewers with basic and rudimentary humour. If the franchise continues in this direction, I may have to check out.
With every entry, the drac-pack has gotten bigger. The second film added Dennis (Asher Blinkoff) and Vlad (Mel Brooks) and this one adds Ericka (Kathryn Hahn) and Tinkles (Joe Whyte). This was the first time that a Hotel Transylvania movie felt over-crowded. There were just too many characters. Tartakovsky could have easily written in for some of the gang to stay back to look after the hotel; Blobby and Murray (Keegan-Michael Key) barely have anything to do and could have easily stayed behind; it would have been hilarious for Dracula and co to return to the hotel covered in toilet roll and slime. Tartakovsky's ideas to build on this franchise always include a new addition. Some of the characters are going to have to take a back-seat for the next entry because kids will struggle to follow all of the subplots. Some of my favourite characters featured less in Hotel Transylvania 3; Mavis (Gomez) and Johnny (Samberg) are the heart of this franchise and should not be sidelined for more of Adam Sandler's Dracula.
Hotel Transylvania 3's narrative is very thin - the drac-pack go on vacation and Dracula falls in love. Tartakovsky clearly realised that he did not have a substantial story to work with and consequently scatters comedy sketches throughout the film to fill the time. This works for younger audiences with a short attention span, but anyone older will notice the transparency of these filler scenes; the fish band start a hilarious rendition of "Thrift Shop", Johnny and Mavis ride dolphins and Blobby produces an offspring. These are just a few examples of the random, fun moments that Hotel Transylvania 3 is full of. Many of the supporting characters also have B-story lines; some work and some do not. I liked seeing Wayne (Steve Buscemi) and Wanda (Molly Shannon) drop their pups off at kids club and experience freedom - it was especially funny watching them play fetch in the ocean. On the other hand, Dennis sneaking Tinkles on-board (and getting away with it) was not-so-great. Not only does the giant puppy remind me of The Emoji Movie, but it was just ridiculous that nobody noticed that 'Bob' was actually Tinkles - Mavis was able to notice Ericka's dodgy behaviour but did not bat an eyelid when Dennis introduced her to 'Bob'. This subplot was silly and wasted Dennis.
The film's core narrative is a fun idea. The first two films have focused on Drac's relationship with his daughter, son-in-law and grandson so it was only right for him to find a partner. Watching Drac tackle this film's version of Tinder was amusing. Hotel Transylvania 3 too often includes crude humour, but it is relationships with Ericka and Mavis that reminds us that this franchise does have a heart. The death of Mavis's mother still haunts them and it is difficult for Mavis to watch her father 'zing' again. It may be light on them but Hotel Transylvania 3 does a have a few heart-warming moments. I really liked Ericka; she is a great addition. However, I did not like that the mastermind behind her was Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan); Ericka had great super-villain potential all by herself, but ultimately becomes an anti-hero. Tartakovsky and McCullers set up Van Helsing's motivations and relationship with Dracula clearly- he despises that monsters are invincible. Ericka's attempts at killing Dracula are some of the films funniest moments. Set to the backdrop of "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars, a whole montage is dedicated to Ericka vs Dracula and it is very entertaining. The third act is by far the strongest; Tartakovsky creates fun and unique ways for the characters to defeat the villain. It is one of the film's only sequences that audience members of all ages will enjoy.
Tartakovsky's Hotel Transylvania franchise is well-defined with a bold and distinct visual style. More-so than its predecessors, this film is what a 3D animated version of the late 90s/early 2000s cartoon would be like. From the way, the characters move to the fast-paced story, Hotel Transylvania 3 pays homage to the golden age of Cartoon Network. Even the selection of songs for the film's DJ battle matches this. Instead of going with "Despacito" or "Shape of You", the song that defeats evil is "Macarena". I would have adored this film 15 years ago. Hotel Transylvania 3 has some impressive visuals towards the end of the film. Although it was fun to see so many new monsters, they weren't exactly aesthetically pleasing. No more witches in bikinis, please! Tartakovsky's franchise peaked with the second film, and I think this is a decent stopping point - even though I wish this franchise went out on a high.
As I feared, Hotel Transylvania 3 nears the franchise even closer to an animated version of a live-action Adam Sandler film. He already has his pals, he includes all of the same humour and with this entry, he is the only character with an actual arc. This film's first two acts are especially Sandler-esque. Sandler does do a good job in the role and Dracula is nicer to look at than Sandler himself. Her character may be sidelined, but Selena Gomez still gives a committed, energetic and spirited performance as Mavis. I wish she had a bigger role and she dilutes Sandler's cheapness. Kathryn Hahn is fabulous. She has to rein it in a little because this is a family film, but she certainly devoted herself to a role that she could have easily phoned-in. Andy Samberg is paid dust despite strong vocal delivery. On and off-set, this cast feels like a family. Tartakovsky and McCullers just need to work on giving fan favourites more screen-time and sidelining the right characters.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation; buzz from overseas suggested it was the strongest entry yet which I do not agree with. Summer Vacation may be the weakest. The premise is promising but it is not accompanied by a substantial story. Instead, Tartakovsky has to scatter sketches throughout the film because he could not find a way to blend them into his core narrative. He does continue to successfully pay homage to the cartoons of the late 90s. The Hotel Transylvania movies are Sandler's hottest property at the minute; it makes sense why he is slowly making the franchise Sandler-centric. Gomez, Hahn and the macarena save Hotel Transylvania: Summer Vacation.
Hotel Transylvania 3's narrative is very thin - the drac-pack go on vacation and Dracula falls in love. Tartakovsky clearly realised that he did not have a substantial story to work with and consequently scatters comedy sketches throughout the film to fill the time. This works for younger audiences with a short attention span, but anyone older will notice the transparency of these filler scenes; the fish band start a hilarious rendition of "Thrift Shop", Johnny and Mavis ride dolphins and Blobby produces an offspring. These are just a few examples of the random, fun moments that Hotel Transylvania 3 is full of. Many of the supporting characters also have B-story lines; some work and some do not. I liked seeing Wayne (Steve Buscemi) and Wanda (Molly Shannon) drop their pups off at kids club and experience freedom - it was especially funny watching them play fetch in the ocean. On the other hand, Dennis sneaking Tinkles on-board (and getting away with it) was not-so-great. Not only does the giant puppy remind me of The Emoji Movie, but it was just ridiculous that nobody noticed that 'Bob' was actually Tinkles - Mavis was able to notice Ericka's dodgy behaviour but did not bat an eyelid when Dennis introduced her to 'Bob'. This subplot was silly and wasted Dennis.
The film's core narrative is a fun idea. The first two films have focused on Drac's relationship with his daughter, son-in-law and grandson so it was only right for him to find a partner. Watching Drac tackle this film's version of Tinder was amusing. Hotel Transylvania 3 too often includes crude humour, but it is relationships with Ericka and Mavis that reminds us that this franchise does have a heart. The death of Mavis's mother still haunts them and it is difficult for Mavis to watch her father 'zing' again. It may be light on them but Hotel Transylvania 3 does a have a few heart-warming moments. I really liked Ericka; she is a great addition. However, I did not like that the mastermind behind her was Van Helsing (Jim Gaffigan); Ericka had great super-villain potential all by herself, but ultimately becomes an anti-hero. Tartakovsky and McCullers set up Van Helsing's motivations and relationship with Dracula clearly- he despises that monsters are invincible. Ericka's attempts at killing Dracula are some of the films funniest moments. Set to the backdrop of "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars, a whole montage is dedicated to Ericka vs Dracula and it is very entertaining. The third act is by far the strongest; Tartakovsky creates fun and unique ways for the characters to defeat the villain. It is one of the film's only sequences that audience members of all ages will enjoy.
Tartakovsky's Hotel Transylvania franchise is well-defined with a bold and distinct visual style. More-so than its predecessors, this film is what a 3D animated version of the late 90s/early 2000s cartoon would be like. From the way, the characters move to the fast-paced story, Hotel Transylvania 3 pays homage to the golden age of Cartoon Network. Even the selection of songs for the film's DJ battle matches this. Instead of going with "Despacito" or "Shape of You", the song that defeats evil is "Macarena". I would have adored this film 15 years ago. Hotel Transylvania 3 has some impressive visuals towards the end of the film. Although it was fun to see so many new monsters, they weren't exactly aesthetically pleasing. No more witches in bikinis, please! Tartakovsky's franchise peaked with the second film, and I think this is a decent stopping point - even though I wish this franchise went out on a high.
As I feared, Hotel Transylvania 3 nears the franchise even closer to an animated version of a live-action Adam Sandler film. He already has his pals, he includes all of the same humour and with this entry, he is the only character with an actual arc. This film's first two acts are especially Sandler-esque. Sandler does do a good job in the role and Dracula is nicer to look at than Sandler himself. Her character may be sidelined, but Selena Gomez still gives a committed, energetic and spirited performance as Mavis. I wish she had a bigger role and she dilutes Sandler's cheapness. Kathryn Hahn is fabulous. She has to rein it in a little because this is a family film, but she certainly devoted herself to a role that she could have easily phoned-in. Andy Samberg is paid dust despite strong vocal delivery. On and off-set, this cast feels like a family. Tartakovsky and McCullers just need to work on giving fan favourites more screen-time and sidelining the right characters.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation; buzz from overseas suggested it was the strongest entry yet which I do not agree with. Summer Vacation may be the weakest. The premise is promising but it is not accompanied by a substantial story. Instead, Tartakovsky has to scatter sketches throughout the film because he could not find a way to blend them into his core narrative. He does continue to successfully pay homage to the cartoons of the late 90s. The Hotel Transylvania movies are Sandler's hottest property at the minute; it makes sense why he is slowly making the franchise Sandler-centric. Gomez, Hahn and the macarena save Hotel Transylvania: Summer Vacation.
58
/100
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