Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation: Review

Adam Sandler - the marmite comedian - and his vulgar antics seemed to have been abandoned in the early 2010's. With superhero movies now all the range, Sandler comedies are a thing of the past, driving the Brooklyn born actor into the world of animation. Returning as Dracula for his third instalment - Sandler and company (Kevin James, David Spade and Steve Buscemi) vacate the hotel and hop on a monster friendly cruise liner for a summer getaway. However their relaxing vacation soon turns into a death trap when they discover the cruise has been commandeered by the monster hunting Van Helsing family. 

Hotel Transylvania 3 escalates from mildly to immensely annoying in a Frankenstein flash. Whilst animation is definitely suited for Sandler and his friends - the latest monster outing plays like a string of tiresome slapstick shorts as oppose to a progressive storyline. Director Genndy Tartakovsky's portfolio to date consists mainly of cartoon TV shows - notably Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory - explaining the film's un-cinematic and frantic quality, trying to cram Cartoon Network material into a ninety seven minute feature film. As a result Hotel Transylvania 3 is too goofy and over simplistic for its own good, proving there are far better animated films to see this summer. 

As Pixar consistently remind us - the key to animated films is their ability to engage and offer something to every member of the family, otherwise it's just a wasted ticket. We throw around the phrase "it's just a kids film" far too often, even though the U certificate stands for universal viewing meaning anyone can watch. Despite its tagged on kid friendly message about looking beyond our different appearances - Hotel Transylvania 3 isn't aiming to be the next Up or Incredibles but doesn't attempt to be the slightest bit challenging either. With ghoulish gags and vomiting blobby monsters there is enough to entertain very young kids but for older viewers Tartakovsky's latest work is profoundly intelligence insulting. 

Flaunting sharp fangs and a black cape -  Sandler is easily the film's strongest asset, his return as the delightfully diligent Count Dracula finds charm I never knew the actor had. The franchise's latest addition Kathryn Hahn relishes as the misguidedly evil Erika Van Helsing who exposes Dracula's shy nature in an endearing, disarming way. The unlikely couple stand out amongst the other, lesser developed monsters. 
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Sadly Dracula's third adventure is two farting vampire jokes too many. Animation has progressed so significantly over the past decade but there are very few films remaining to oppose the house of mouse. As Dracula sports multiple Hawaiian shirts - Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation is the most colourful film of the series, but it's far from a relaxing holiday. 

Hotel Transylvania 3: A Monster Vacation: 

Very Bad