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Hotel Transylvania: Transformania

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Hotel Transylvania: Transformania
Promotional release poster
Screenplay by
Story byGenndy Tartakovsky
Based onCharacters
by Todd Durham
Produced byAlice Dewey Goldstone
Starring
Edited byLynn Hobson[2]
Music byMark Mothersbaugh
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Studios (worldwide)
Sony Pictures Releasing (China)
Release date
  • January 14, 2022 (2022-01-14)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$75 million[3]
Box office$18.5 million[4][5]

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania (also known as Hotel Transylvania 4) is a 2022 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation and released by Amazon Studios. The fourth and final installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise and the sequel to Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018), the film is directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska (in their respective feature-length directorial debuts) from a screenplay by Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo and Genndy Tartakovsky (who directed the prior three films). It stars the voices of Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez (who also served as an executive producer alongside Tartakovsky and Michelle Murdocca), Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Brian Hull, Fran Drescher, Brad Abrell, Asher Blinkoff, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins and Zoe Berri. In the film, Dracula and Johnny (Hull and Samberg), who transformed into a human and monster, must find the way to South America to revert, before their transformations become permanent.

Plans for a fourth Hotel Transylvania film begin in February 2019 and was announced to be released on December 22, 2021. Returning and new cast and crew members were announced soon after, and Mark Mothersbaugh, who composed the score for the first three installments, returned to score, in addition to original song performed by Yendry. Production took place remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally planned to be released theatrically in the United States on October 1, 2021, Sony Pictures Releasing cancelled the film's release plans and sold the film's distribution rights to Amazon Studios for $100 million, due to rising cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the United States.

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania was released exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on January 14, 2022 and theatrically in China on April 3. The film received mixed reviews from critics with the Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus calls it "middling family viewing -- relatively painless, but overall rather uninspired".

Plot

During Hotel Transylvania’s 125th anniversary celebration, Dracula is planning to retire and leave the hotel to Mavis and Johnny. Mavis overhears this and tells Johnny who excitedly tells Drac his plans to renovate the hotel. Worried about Johnny ruining the hotel, Drac lies to him saying that there is a "monster real-estate law" which only lets monsters own the hotel, disappointing Johnny.

Van Helsing decides to help Johnny using a ray that turns humans into monsters and vice versa. After testing it on his guinea pig Gigi, he uses it on Johnny who turns into a dragon-like monster. Learning about Johnny’s monster form, Drac tries to turn him back to normal, but accidentally turns himself into a human and breaks the ray's crystal. Van Helsing tells Drac and Johnny that they can still turn themselves back to normal by getting a new crystal which lies in the Cave of the Reflexión in South America, so Drac and Johnny set off to do so.

Drac’s friends Frank, Wayne, Griffin and Murray end up becoming humans as well, as a result of drinking from a fountain that was contaminated by the ray. After learning about Drac and Johnny's whereabouts on the news, Mavis and Ericka confront Van Helsing, but they are attacked by Gigi, where Van Helsing discovers that the effects of the ray are unstable, as the monster transformation will keep mutating until the subject becomes a mindless beast. With this in mind, the rest of the gang head to South America to find Drac and Johnny.

While traveling through the South American jungle, Drac and Johnny begin to bond, and Drac eventually begins to confess that he lied about the monster real-estate law, but the rest of the group finds them. Things turn sour when Drac admits his deception regarding passing over the hotel to Mavis and Johnny. This prompts an upset Johnny to believe Drac does not consider him family and to mutate further before running away.

Mavis goes to find Johnny while Drac and the rest of the gang go to the Cave of the Reflexión. Mavis finds Johnny, but the transformation has turned him very volatile. She leads him to the cave where they finally find the crystal. When Mavis tries to turn Johnny back to normal, nothing happens due to him being too frenzied. In desperation, Drac lets himself get captured by Johnny and makes a remorseful speech about how wrong he was about Johnny and how he now sees the best in him, finally acknowledging him as family. This brings Johnny back to his senses, and he is returned to normal.

With Drac and his friends turned back to normal, they return home only to find the hotel has been destroyed by Gigi. After turning Gigi back to normal, Drac decides to let Mavis and Johnny rebuild the hotel to their liking. One year later, Mavis and Johnny re-built and modernized the hotel, which Drac comes to enjoy.

Voice cast

Main article: List of Hotel Transylvania characters
  • Brian Hull as Count "Drac" Dracula, the founder of Hotel Transylvania and Mavis' father, Johnny's father-in-law, Dennis' maternal grandfather and Ericka's husband. In the previous films, he was voiced by Adam Sandler,[6][7] who had to drop out for the fourth installment due to scheduling conflicts.
  • Andy Samberg as Jonathan "Johnny" Loughran, Mavis' husband, Dracula's son-in-law, Ericka's stepson-in-law and Dennis' father[7]
  • Selena Gomez as Mavis Dracula, Johnny's wife, Dracula's daughter, Ericka's stepdaughter and Dennis' mother[7]
    • Victoria Gomez voices a young Mavis Dracula
  • Kathryn Hahn as Ericka Van Helsing, Dracula's wife, Mavis' stepmother, Johnny's stepmother-in-law, Dennis' step-grandmother and the great-granddaughter of Abraham Van Helsing[7]
  • Jim Gaffigan as Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a former monster hunter, Dracula's great-grandfather-in-law and ex-nemesis and Ericka's great-grandfather who invented the "Monsterfication Ray"[7]
  • Brad Abrell as Frankenstein, Eunice's husband. He was originally voiced by Kevin James in the first three films
  • Steve Buscemi as Wayne, a werewolf and Wanda's husband[7]
  • David Spade as Griffin, an invisible man[7]
  • Keegan-Michael Key as Murray, an ancient mummy[7]
  • Fran Drescher as Eunice, Frankenstein's wife[7]
  • Molly Shannon as Wanda, a werewolf and Wayne's wife[7]
  • Asher Blinkoff as Dennis, the dhampir son of Johnny and Mavis, Vlad's great-grandson, Ericka's step-grandson and Dracula's grandson[7]
  • Zoe Berri as Winnie, a werewolf who is the daughter of Wayne and Wanda and a friend of Dennis. She was originally voiced by Sadie Sandler in the first three films
  • Asher Bishop as Wesley, a werewolf who is the son of Wayne and Wanda
  • Tyler "Ninja" Blevins as Party Monster[8]
  • Genndy Tartakovsky as Blobby, a green blob monster
  • Victoria Gomez as Wilma, a werewolf who is the daughter of Wayne and Wanda
  • Jennifer Kluska as Wendy, a werewolf who is the daughter of Wayne and Wanda
  • Derek Drymon as a zombie that was briefly turned into a human

Production

In February 2019, Sony Pictures Animation announced that a fourth film had been in development.[9][10] In October 2019, Genndy Tartakovsky confirmed that he would not direct the film.[11] In September 2020, Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon, a storyboard artist on the first two Hotel Transylvania sequels and a former crew member of SpongeBob SquarePants and Adventure Time, respectively, were confirmed to be the film's directors, while Tartakovsky would write the screenplay and serve as an executive producer alongside Selena Gomez, who voices Mavis in the series.[12][13] Production took place remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

In April 2021, the film's title was revealed to be Hotel Transylvania: Transformania and it was confirmed that it would be the final film in the franchise.[15][16] That same month, Sony confirmed that Adam Sandler would not reprise his role as Dracula.[6] The role was given to Brian Hull after voicing the character in the short film Monster Pets,[17] while Kathryn Hahn, Steve Buscemi, David Spade, and Keegan-Michael Key were confirmed to reprise their roles.[7] The following month, it was announced that Brad Abrell had replaced Kevin James as the voice of Frankenstein.[18] Lynn Hobson served as editor.[2]

Music

Mark Mothersbaugh returned to score the film, having previously scored the first three installments.[19] The soundtrack was released on January 14, 2022 by Sony Classical.[20] Additionally, the original end credits song Love Is Not Hard to Find were written by Morien van der Tang, Faried Arween Jhauw, Glen Faria & Jheynner Argot) and performed by Yendry and released on January 14, 2022.[21]

Release

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania was released by Amazon Studios on Prime Video, on January 14, 2022.[22] In February 2019, Sony Pictures Releasing scheduled the film for release on December 22, 2021.[23] In April 2020, the film was moved up to August 6, 2021.[24] In April 2021, the film was moved up again to July 23, 2021.[15] In June 2021, the film was rescheduled to October 1, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]

In August 2021, Sony Pictures cancelled the film's theatrical plans and entered discussions to sell the distribution rights to a streaming service, in response to the rising cases of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in the United States.[26][27] On August 16, 2021, it was reported that Amazon Studios was in negotiations to acquire the distribution rights to the film for $100 million from Sony and would release it exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worldwide, excluding China, where Sony would release it theatrically on an undetermined date. Sony would also retain home entertainment and linear television rights to the film.[28][29] On October 6, 2021, Amazon set a release date of January 14, 2022.[22]

The film had a limited theatrical release on February 25, 2022.[30] On March 7, 2022, it was announced that the film would have a theatrical release in China beginning April 3 of that year.[31]

Home media

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania was released on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD on August 15, 2023 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.[32]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 47% of 78 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "Much like the trio of films it follows, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is middling family viewing -- relatively painless, but overall rather uninspired."[33] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[34]

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting rates it 2.5 out of 5 stars, writing "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania never gets as complex as its moral center suggests, therefore never really rising above a wholesome, exuberant amusement ride."[35] Tomris Laffly of Variety gave the film a mixed review, writing, "The result is yet another wearisome tale that inelegantly depicts themes like acceptance, understanding and diversity within a saga that has always been rather clumsy with its messaging around such weighty topics."[36] John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, writing, "Never much to write home about in the script department — Tartakovsky excels in more stylish, less verbal fare like Samurai Jack — Transformania remains sufficiently goofy-sweet to please its target demo; those who find the humor toothless should at least appreciate the distinctive animation, which can be as energetically wacky as classic Looney Tunes."[37]

Accolades

The film was nominated in two categories for "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" and "Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing for an Animated Program" at the 1st Children's and Family Emmy Awards.[38] At the 2023 Kids' Choice Awards, Selena Gomez won the award for "Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie (Female)".[39]

References

  1. ^ Billington, Alex (May 17, 2021). "Goofy First Trailer for Sequel 'Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania'". FirstShowing.net. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hobson, Lynn. "Lynn Hobson Lead Editor at Sony Pictures Animation". Linkedin. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sony Sells 'Hotel Transylvania 4' To Amazon For $100 Million". Forbes. August 16, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "Daily Box Office > China". entgroup. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania". The Numbers. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Mendelson, Scott (April 9, 2021). "Box Office: How 'Hotel Transylvania' Became One Of Hollywood's Leggiest Franchises". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hannett, Michelle (April 11, 2021). "Celebrate National Pet Day 2021 With Monster Pets: A 'Hotel Transylvania' Short". We Are Movie Geeks.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Malkin, Marc (December 10, 2021). "Twitch Streamer Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins Cast in 'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Donnelly, Matt (February 26, 2019). "'Hotel Transylvania 4' to Hit Theaters in December 2021". Variety. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  10. ^ Mancuso, Vinnie (February 26, 2019). "'Hotel Transylvania 4' In the Works at Sony Pictures Animation". Collider. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Trumbore, Dave (October 4, 2019). "'Hotel Transylvania 4': Genndy Tartakovsky Confirms He Won't Be in the Director's Chair". Collider. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  12. ^ Donnelly, Matt (September 17, 2020). "Selena Gomez Upped to Executive Producer for 'Hotel Transylvania 4', Returns as Female Lead (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  13. ^ Dela Paz, Maggie (September 18, 2020). "'Hotel Transylvania 4' Set for 2021 Debut with Selena Gomez Returning". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  14. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 8, 2020). "How Animated Pics Like 'Tom & Jerry', 'SpongeBob Movie', 'Sing 2', Skydance's 'Luck' & More Are Working Through The COVID-19 Crisis". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  15. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 9, 2021). "'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' Opening Earlier This Summer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  16. ^ Dick, Jeremy (April 9, 2021). "'Monster Pets: A Hotel Transylvania' Short Arrives in Celebration of Pets Day This Sunday". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Dick, Jeremy (May 15, 2021). "'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' Gets New Teaser Footage, Trailer Coming Monday". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  18. ^ Verboven, Jos (May 17, 2021). "Trailer Park: 'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania'". Scifi.radio. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  19. ^ "Mark Mothersbaugh Scoring 'Hotel Transylvania: Transformia'". Film Music Reporter.com. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. January 13, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  21. ^ "Yendry's Original End Credits Song Love Is Not Hard to Find from Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Released". Film Music Reporter. January 14, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Aurthur, Kate (October 6, 2021). "'Hotel Transylvania 4' Heads To Amazon, Sets January Release Date". Variety. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  23. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 26, 2019). "'Hotel Transylvania 4' To Open Doors Christmas Season 2021". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  24. ^ McClintock, Pamela; Couch, Aaron (April 24, 2020). "Spider-Man Sequel Delays Release to November 2021 Amid Sony Date Shuffle". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  25. ^ Shafer, Ellise (June 18, 2021). "'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' Moves to October". Variety. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  26. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 12, 2021). "'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Delayed Until October; Exhibition Buzzes That 'Hotel Transylvania 4' Also On The Move – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  27. ^ Perine, Aaron (August 12, 2021). "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Possibly Headed to Streaming". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  28. ^ Vary, Adam B. (August 16, 2021). "'Hotel Transylvania 4' Skipping Theaters as Sony Nears Over $100 Million Deal With Amazon (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  29. ^ Anderson, Jenna (August 16, 2021). "Sony Skips Theaters With Hotel Transylvania 4, Streaming on Amazon Instead". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  30. ^ Sony Pictures Animation [@SonyAnimation] (February 25, 2022). "A sweet surprise – #HotelTransylvania: Transformania will play in select theaters across the US for a special one-week run, starting today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (March 7, 2022). "'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' Set For April Theatrical Release In China". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  32. ^ "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania DVD Release Date August 15, 2023". DVDs Release Dates. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  33. ^ "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 31, 2022. Edit this at Wikidata
  34. ^ "Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  35. ^ Navarro, Meagan. "[Review] Hotel Transylvania: Transformania Ends Franchise With Final Lighthearted Monster Adventure". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  36. ^ Tomris Laffly (January 10, 2022). "'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania' Review: Monster Toon Franchise Hits New Lows With Adam Sandler-Less Sequel". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  37. ^ John DeFore (January 10, 2022). "'Hotel Transylvania: Transformania': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  38. ^ Schneider, Michael (November 1, 2022). "Netflix Leads Nomination Tally for First-Ever Children's & Family Emmys". Variety. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  39. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (March 4, 2023). "Wednesday, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles Among Winners at 2023 Kids' Choice Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
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