Jeri Jacquin

From creator Todd Durham and Sony Pictures Animations comes the 4-Movie Collection beginning with the original HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA.

In 2012, the world was introduced to Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) and along with wife Martha, and their baby daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez). When sadness comes into their life, Dracula decides to open a monsters-only hotel. It is a hotel getaway for those who are looking for a break from human persecution and a safe place to raise Mavis.

On her 18th birthday, Dracula plans a party while Mavis plans to see the world but the world comes to her as Johnny (Andy Samberg) the hiker comes to the hotel. Trying to hide him is where the comedy of errors begins as Dracula must learn that Mavis is growing up. Watching this all come to pass is Frankenstein (Kevin James) and wife Eunice (Fran Drescher), Wayne (Steve Buscemi) and Wanda (Molly Shannon) Werewolf, Griffin the Invisible Man (David Spade) and Murray the Mummy (CeeLo Green).

Returning in 2015, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 has Mavis and Johnny married and Dracula is about to become Grandpa Drac. Named Denisovich by Dracula, little Dennis grows up fast and grandpa is worried that he is not seeing any powers in the young boy. He also learns that Johnny and Marvis are thinking of moving to California. Dracula talks Johnny into visiting his parents and suggesting that he take care of Dennis.

While the parents are gone, Dracula tries to find ways with the help of the gang to push Dennis’ powers to the surface. The problem is, when the parents find a video posted online of their mischief, they rush home. Mavis is furious and lets her father know that they would be leaving after the boy’s birthday party.

Dracula discovers that Mavis has invited his father Vlad and isn’t happy about it knowing his father really doesn’t like humans. Now Vlad is taking the reins to make sure that his great-grandson’s powers come out. He also doesn’t know that Johnny is a human which means more chaos at Hotel Transylvania.

It’s time for a vacation when in 2018 HOTEL TRANSVYLVANIA 3: Summer Vacation delights audiences. Dracula looks around the hotel and see’s everyone paired up and it makes him a little lonely. Mavis decides to book a cruise and take time away from the hotel and takes her father, Johnny, Dennis and even Vlad aboard the cruise ship Legacy.

The captain of the ship is Ericka (Kathryn Hahn) makes everyone aboard the ship feel welcome and excited to be on the cruise. Underneath that cheerful exterior lies the truth of who Ericka is – the great grandfather of Dracula’s rival Abraham Van Helsing. She has decided that she is going to finish what Van Helsing started but, something is happening between she and the good Count.

Finally, in 2022 we get a chance to see what Johnny is made of in HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: Transformania. Celebrating the 125th anniversary of the hotel, Mavis discovers that her father wants to leave her the hotel. Mavis tells Dennis and he has plans upon plans and it stressed Dracula out. Van Helsing shows Johnny a ray that makes monsters into humans and he uses it on Johnny who becomes a dragonish monster. Drac also gets a shot of the ray gun and is now horrifyingly human.

Frank, Wayne, Griffin and Murray also become human. Mavis and Ericka are not happy with Van Helsing but it’s going to get worse when he tells them that its possible for mutations. Not only is the family in danger, but so is Hotel Transylvania!

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment encompasses motion picture production for television, digital content and theater releases. The studios include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films and Sony Picture Classics. To see what is coming to theaters and to home entertainment please visit www.sonypictures.com.

Bonus features include HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: Transformania Mini-Movie: Monster Pets, Monster Mash-Up: Making HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: Transformania, Selena vs. Andy: A Hotel Transyl-Trivia Quiz, “Love is Not Hard to Find by Yendry, Filmmaker Commentary and more!

Multi-feature DVD and Digital Bonus includes Goodnight Mr. Foot – Short Film, Hotel Transylvania Puppy! – Short Film, “Problem” Music Video by Beck G. Featuring wil.i.am, “I’m in Love with a Monster” Music Video by Fifth Harmony, Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes, Filmmaker Commentary and more!

It is wonderful that the cast of Adam Sandler (and then Brian Hull), Selena Gomez, Andy Sanberg, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Fran Drescher, Kevin James (and then Brad Abrell), Kathryn Han, Jim Gaffigan, Sadie Sandler/Asher Blinkoff and the undeniable icon of Mel Brooks return to each of these films.

Each of these characters are memorable, loveable, hilarious, thought provoking, caring and family oriented. Beginning with Count Dracula, Sandler always made sure that as evil as he wanted to be, at the heart of him is a family man who wants everyone he cares about to be safe and happy – even if it makes him a little crazy. I just love Dracula, even when his eyes get all red, because of Sandler’s portrayal.

Gomez as Mavis has her hands full with a grandfather, father, husband and son, all of them with their own issues that made her original issue of freedom seem so trivial. She deals with it all in stride because she has an amazing hotel family that supports each other and is there if she needs them. Samberg as Johnny is just as nutty as he wants to be and Mavis doesn’t mind it at all. He is a good guy and that’s all you can ask for when it comes to a daughter right?

James as Frankenstein and Drescher as wife Eunice are a cute couple. She is a very strong person and Frankenstein counts on that to my way of thinking. Buscemi as Wayne and Shannon as Wanda are a constantly growing family and as much as Wayne gets irritate with the litter, there are moments where you see he wouldn’t change anything for the world. Shannon is the nurturer in the relationship and it knows exactly how to handle her wily bunch.

Green as Murray (later taken over by Key) just cracks me up as the mummy. He loves being Frank’s sidekick on things and their friendship is so important. Spade as Griffin the invisible doesn’t need to have a physical look about him, it’s all Spade being his usual comedic self with only a pair of glasses to show his presence.

The addition of Kahn as Ericka is so lovely. Isn’t it weird that I was happy Drac found someone to be with? A huge shout out to Mel Brooks because he is an amazing Count Vlad. I adore his character and he is hilarious being the vocals of the elder Count.

Finally having all four films in one collection allows families to have a Transylvania binge watching Friday night. My granddaughter and I made a date to do this and with popcorn and snacks we went from first to last in the Transylvania franchise. We laughed so much and had such a great time that I kept thinking how great this is going to be for all families.

Each of the films brings something unique in the way of life-lessons because although they are monsters, they have all the same problems, kind of, that we have. Watching the hotel family together, after a while you don’t see monsters, there is a connection between what we see and how each character makes us feel.

That is the big lesson if anything, the connection and relatability to the life problems as it also teaches us to chill out and laugh at the silliness. Fathers, daughters, travelers, friends, loyalty and chaos are a staple in each of the films and that means a lot to those of us who embrace the Hotel Transylvania franchise.

So, pop that corn, grab some drinks, snacks, grab a fuzzy soft blanket and jump on the couch with the remote and get ready for some serious family time!

In the end – they are part of our family!

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