Review of Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) by Timothy G — 27 Nov 2015

We loved the first HT, a great surprise and variety of original characters, constant gags, modern visual humour, well timed animation and a well paced film that seems too short as you are taken along for the enjoyable the ride.

HT2 on the other hand has been made slightly off, slightly working too hard to be funny, slightly vetted by a parent company like Sony to make sure the research groups are satisfied. All together it's re-designed characters are too glossy and character movement's are way to over-the-top, voices (especially Jonathan's) are oddly different to the original which irritates as he's such a great relatable and pivotal character throughout the first film - but isn't anything more than a wacky waving inflatable arm man in the second and not really required disappointingly. Clearly a Sony film from the overboard product placement, the gags are those 'toilet ideas' that one first thinks of before vetting which unfortunately they made it to final film and the storyline is just a little 'shit'.

Blobbly becomes the character you want to see more of (and I'm sure they will make a "Blobby goes on vacation" film if once again user testing agrees), and there are a 'few' funny moments (mainly around the jello form of Blobby as with Monster V Aliens, you can't really go wrong with a wobbling speechless character made of jelly), but my 5y/o who loves HT1 walked out stone faced with HT2.

Some funny parts but all in all, the redesigned characters take most of the film to get used to, the story is confusing, you are constantly reminded how bad this one is compared to the first when Jonathan is in frame and feels more as if it's a big corporate film made by suits to sell sony products and possibly for the figurine sales - not worth it if you like the first.

Stars: 2/5 - just.