Movie review: Hotel Transylvania

Last week, my son Sol and I made our way from the hot, smoggy Inland Empire all the way to Century City to catch a screening of Hotel Transylvania by Sony Pictures Animation last week. Xenia from Raised By Culture asked me to be a guest blogger and review the movie and the timing was perf for a day at the movies and dinner the day after his 12th birthday. It would put a smile on his pouty little tween face. We don't get the chance for one-on-one time very often so he was excited.

The gist of the movie is this: A widowed Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) runs a lavish resort-style hotel for fellow monsters, a place where they can relax and get away from humans. You know, the ones always chasing them with a pitchfork and flames on a stick. Dracula is also a loving and sometimes overprotective daddy to daughter Mavis (played by Selena Gomez), who is about to celebrate her 118th birthday.

Like all teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, Mavis wants to go out and see the world but Count Dracula ain't trying to hear that. He goes to great lengths to keep Mavis within the walls of the hotel, where she will be safe and sound and away from humans. That is, until one kooky, free-spirited back-packer (voiced by SNL’s Adam Samberg) stumbles upon the hotel. You can tell he’s done some extensive world traveling because the fact that there are giants, werewolves, shrunken heads, skeletons, Frankensteins and mummies walking around doesn’t phase him in the least. Dracula tries to get rid of him but he captures the eye of Mavis and pretty soon, he’s dancing, rapping and capturing the hearts of all of the monsters in the place.

We enjoyed it. I was apprehensive at first because I hate 3D movies...but then I realized I am an old lady whose only experience with 3D is Captain E.O at Disneyland and that makes my eyes cross like I am a derp sooo [insert gulp of air] it was a nice surprise to discover that 3D movies are freaking awesome.

Funniest part of the movie was a Twilight reference. Dracula gives the side eye and sneers, this is how they represent our kind. The adults in the theater were cracking up.

3D glasses make the perfect hipster glasses.

After we got our hair straightened by a young Russian girl trying to sell me a $120 flat iron (she told me my hair was dry!), we stopped for a sweet treat in the mall.

Whenever we are in L.A, we make an effort to see my Pops who lives on the West side. He knows all the side streets and the best places to eat. I'm so laughing at Sol's overly enthusiastic look on his face in the pic below. Yes, the preteen phase has hit us with a vengeance.

Getting ready to have some dinner.

Mmmm, sushi! It was so good.

The rest of us wanted Cuban food at Versailles, but the spoiled birthday boy and his request for sushi won. Not that I'm going to complain about having sushi. We ended our night with gelato--coconut gelato to be exact. It was swoon-worthy!

We had a great time spending time with family and watching Hotel Transylvania. The movie comes out this Friday, September 28th. Go and see it!

Disclosure:  raisedbyculture.com was invited by Sony Pictures Animation to check out Hotel Transylvania.  All thoughts are our own.