This one might not be directly up our alley, but it’s hard to ignore a movie called HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA – even if it is an animated 3D comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James.
Sony announced today their plans to release said animated comedy in the Fall of next year. HOTEL is being helmed by “Clone Wars” director Genndy Tartakovsky, which I suppose will intrigue animation buffs out there.
From the press release:
Adam Sandler will voice the lead role of Dracula in Sony Pictures Animation’s 3D family comedy Hotel Transylvania, it was announced today by Bob Osher, president, Sony Pictures Digital Productions, and Michelle Raimo-Kouyate, president of production, Sony Pictures Animation. The film will be released on September 21, 2012, by Columbia Pictures.
The film will be directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, a star in the animation community, well-known for his work on Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars, and “Dexter’s Laboratory”; he recently conceptualized and storyboarded the final action sequence for Iron Man 2 and provided the stylish and memorable prologue for the film Priest. The film is produced by Michelle Murdocca (Open Season, Stuart Little 1 & 2) and the animation is by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s (Sandler) lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free from meddling from the human world. But here’s a little known fact about Dracula: he is not only the Prince of Darkness; he is also a dad. Over-protective of his teenage daughter, Mavis, Dracula fabricates tales of elaborate dangers to dissuade her adventurous spirit. As a haven for Mavis, he opens the Hotel Transylvania, where his daughter and some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more – can kick back in safety and peace. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem – but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.
Also confirmed to join the cast: Kevin James will play Frank – also known as Frankenstein – with Fran Drescher voicing Eunice, his in-your-face, over-the-top, and larger-than-life Bride. David Spade plays Quasimodo, once the hunchback of Notre Dame and now a crazy, passionate gourmet chef always looking for his next piece de resistance. Steve Buscemi and Molly Shannon will play Wayne and Wanda, a pair of married, harried werewolves, parents to an ever-increasing litter of pups, who are looking forward to their family vacation at the hotel. Cee Lo Green is also joining the cast as Murray, a boisterous Mummy, once entertainer to the great Pharaohs, now the life of the party, and always feeling the urge to let loose and sing. Finally, Andy Samberg will voice the role of Jonathan, a 21-year-old regular guy, carefree and full of life, whose world travels land him at the Hotel.
I dunno – there are a lot of people involved here that annoy me. I’m not the biggest Adam Sandler fan, and any movie that threatens to feature his voice – not to mention the voices of David Spade and Fran Drescher – sounds like a big-time turnoff, especially when you consider that all involved will be compelled to overact their asses off. (Think these folks will have any restraint?) But… we’ll wait and see. I’m always down for a monster mash.
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA opens on SEPTEMBER 21, 2012.
Fran Drescher