🏨 Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) Review

“Even monsters have in-law problems.”


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Lets start by showing y’all the trailers shall we?

🎥 Trailers

The trailers promised bigger family chaos: Dracula as a grandpa, Jonathan adjusting to monster life, and a half-human/half-vampire kid shaking up the status quo. And unlike many sequels, this one actually delivered on the fun.


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📖 Non-Spoiler Plot Overview

After the events of the first film, Mavis and Jonathan are married and have a son, Dennis. Dracula is desperate for Dennis to grow fangs and carry on the vampire legacy. But with Dennis appearing more human than monster, Drac takes matters into his own hands — training the boy with the help of his monster friends.

Meanwhile, Mavis contemplates raising Dennis in the human world, fearing the hotel may not be the safest place. Family expectations, traditions, and generational clashes collide in typical Hotel Transylvania fashion.


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🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Character Rundown

Dracula (Adam Sandler): Now a doting (and meddling) grandpa, struggling with change and tradition.

Mavis (Selena Gomez): Protective mother, torn between her love for home and her concern for Dennis’ safety.

Jonathan (Andy Samberg): Still goofy and upbeat, now trying to balance his human roots with monster family life.

Dennis (Asher Blinkoff): The adorable half-human/half-vampire child at the heart of the story.

Monster Squad: Frankenstein, Wayne, Murray, and Griffin return, adding their usual chaos to Drac’s schemes.

Vlad (Mel Brooks): Dracula’s intimidating father, whose arrival stirs even more generational tension.



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⏱️ Pacing / Episode Flow

The movie moves briskly, balancing family humor with monster slapstick. Unlike many sequels, it doesn’t feel like a lazy retread — it expands the world with new themes (family, change, acceptance) while keeping the high-energy pace.


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✅ Pros

Keeps the heart: The family dynamics give the comedy real weight.

Creative premise: Blending monster tradition with modern family issues works surprisingly well.

Comedy still lands: The slapstick feels fresh, and the jokes never drag.

Great additions: Dennis and Vlad expand the cast without overwhelming the story.



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❌ Cons

Some jokes lean heavily on slapstick repetition.

Vlad arrives late in the story, and some might wish for more Mel Brooks.



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😂 3 Funny Moments

1. Drac teaching Dennis to fly: He drops him off a tall tower hoping his vampire wings kick in — only for the boy to plop to the ground unharmed.


2. The monster training montage: Frankenstein, Wayne, and Murray each try (and hilariously fail) to “monster up” Dennis.


3. Drac dancing at the party: His cringe-worthy, over-the-top moves are both embarrassing and hilarious.




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💭 Why It Works

Like the first film, this sequel benefits from Genndy Tartakovsky’s animation style — elastic, exaggerated, and perfectly matched to slapstick. But what really makes it work is the heart: Dracula’s struggle with tradition vs. modern family life is relatable, even in a goofy monster setting.

And here’s the kicker: this is the only Adam Sandler series you enjoy, because instead of relying on lazy live-action humor, his quirks as Dracula fit the character. The premise (a monster family comedy) is creative enough to elevate even his goofiest delivery.

It’s why both the first two films work — they’re genuinely funny, heartfelt, and imaginative in ways his other movies rarely are.


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⭐ Rating

10/10 — A rare sequel that matches the charm of the original. Funny, heartfelt, and creatively animated.


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⚠️ Spoiler Warning ⚠️

🕵️ Extended Spoilers – Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)

The movie begins with Mavis and Jonathan’s wedding, a massive monster-human celebration that sets the tone: the Hotel is now a place for both worlds. Soon after, Dennis is born — but whether he’s a vampire or human is unclear. Dracula is thrilled at the possibility of continuing the vampire legacy, but his excitement turns to anxiety as Dennis grows older without showing any fangs.

Mavis, concerned about Dennis’ safety, considers moving to California to raise him among humans. While she and Jonathan take a trip to test the idea, Dracula hatches his own plan: if Dennis can be raised as a true vampire, maybe his powers will awaken. He recruits Frankenstein, Wayne, Murray, and Griffin to help him toughen Dennis up in secret. Cue the disastrous “training” montage: Dennis is thrown off a tower (with Dracula hoping he’ll sprout wings), introduced to dangerous monsters, and paraded through scary situations — none of which awaken his vampire side.

Things take a turn when Dracula tries to scare Dennis at a children’s party, only to cause chaos and frighten everyone, embarrassing Mavis when she finds out. She becomes even more determined to leave the hotel for good.

Meanwhile, Dracula’s father Vlad arrives. A much more old-school, terrifying vampire, Vlad believes monsters should stay far away from humans. When he discovers Dennis may be human, he’s disgusted. Worse, Vlad’s minion Bela openly attacks Jonathan’s family and friends, creating a showdown.

In the chaos, Dennis finally transforms: when Bela threatens Mavis, Dennis grows fangs and unleashes his vampire powers, proving he is indeed part of the monster world. Together, Dracula, Mavis, Jonathan, and Dennis defeat Bela and restore peace.

The film ends with Dracula learning an important lesson: it doesn’t matter whether Dennis is more human or vampire — what matters is that he’s loved. Even Vlad softens, accepting his grandson despite his earlier prejudice. The family unites, monsters and humans alike, with a party that closes the film on a celebratory, heartwarming note.