Hotel Transylvania 2 (U), film review: vampire movies don’t come more genial and likeable than this

The film makes predictable points about respect for others

Adam Sandler co-scripted this animated sequel, and he also voices Count Dracula. An engaging and sometimes witty coming-of-age story, it is a patch above some of Sandler’s recent live-action films. Dracula’s daughter Mavis has given birth to a red-haired baby boy, Dennis, but the dad is a human and the vampires are worried that young Dennis is late in developing fangs.

The film makes predictable points about respect for others but there is enough gruesome slapstick to keep sanctimoniousness at bay. The animation isn’t groundbreaking and the use of 3D feels tokenistic, but vampire movies don’t come more genial and likeable.

Genndy Tartakovsky, 88 mins Voices: Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi