We went to see the new family animated film 'Hotel Transylvania' at Regal Cinema's at the Marketplace @ Augusta. Saturday afternoon + rainy day = packed theater. The premise of the movie is that Dracula (Adam Sandler) has built a refuge for monsters from humans and to protect his daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez) from the outside world. Monsters and their families live it up at the resort and are free to be themselves without mean-old humans around. The big celebration with a who's who of monsters is all to celebrate Mavis' 118th birthday. (I guess this is the equivalent in the 'Monster World' of a 'Sweet 16' party.)

We are introduced to Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a werewolf family, skeletons, zombies...you name it, they're welcome at 'Hotel Transylvania.' My favorite part of the movie was trying to figure which actor/actress was doing the voiceover for what monster. There's David Spade, Kevin James, Fran Drescher even Cee Lo Green. If you go, try and match the voice to the monster.

Mavis has been brought up to believe humans are mean and evil and when a teenage human arrives by mistake at the Hotel, you know exactly how the story will unravel. You're not going to the movie for plot, you're going for the quick punchlines and enough laughs to appeal to audiences of all ages. (And yes, it wouldn't be an Adam Sandler movie if there wasn't a big breaking wind bit.) Dracula even takes a minute to poke fun at the movies biggest vampires, the gang from 'Twilight.'

If you're looking to get in to the Halloween spirit without experiencing a scary movie, 'Hotel Transylvania' is perfect and safe for the whole family. By the way, we didn't see it in 3D. After the price of 4 movie tickets, popcorn, candy and drinks, 2D's plenty good enough for me!

I rate movies on a reverse sliding scale by how many times I nod off. (I'm notorious for falling asleep at movies.) So, with only 2 quick nods, I'll give 'Hotel Transylvania' 3 stars.

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