Hotel Transylvania

[Drunk Monk]

Let's see, Sandler as Dracula and Selena Gomez as his daughter? Of the three Halloween animated films out now (Paranorman and Frankenweenie being the other two), my dear daughter wanted to see this one the most, mostly because all her friends had seen it and S kicked us out of the house so she could see a client and make some money. What's more, her friends didn't really like it. Anyway, we saw it. She liked it. I didn't. Despite a decent cast...well, actually no, only Buscemi as the werewolf was mildly funny...it was painfully mediocre. With the frantic animation style, the 3D was a blur. Andy Samberg's human character was ok as he was a backpacker and kept dropping names of music festivals, but the notion of him romancing Selena was repulsive (although better him than the Bieber). It was actually a decent role for Selena, in like with her Wizards of Waverly Place. I keep waiting for her to grow up because she's got this naughty streak that will be better suited for adult roles, It's doubtful a sword fight could have saved this one, but it surely would have helped.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I noticed how they played down in the advertising this was an Adam Sandler and his crew given how poisonous his films have been at the box office lately. I figured they were going to pull in the kids with the fact it was a cartoon and hope that people didn't notice it was the same cast as Jack and Jill or That's my Boy. Can't think of a single Sandler film that I have enjoyed.

[Drunk Monk]

You mean beyond Sandler, Samberg and Spade? (that would make a great name for a dentist office, no?) But point taken, they could have recorded their parts for HT on their water breaks.

I'm totally with you on not liking Sandler films. I don't like them so much that, apart from HT, I haven't seen any of them.

I figured they were cutting down the ads because it landed between Frankenweenie and ParaNorman, which sucked up the Halloween kid flick market this year like a bad comic playing a 3D CGI vampire.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I meant predominately the same crew. Five years ago or even less, the ads would have blared that it was a Sandler pic with David Spade and Kevin James etc. But I think they've lost so much money that Sandler isn't the brand it used to be.

[cranefly]

Your discussion prompted me to do some research on Sandler. I didn't do this to prove you wrong, because I dislike him as well.
But in terms of average gross per film, he is ranked 17th among all actors at 78.9 million/film. You can play with the column headers on this page to order the listing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_act...fice_gross

I also checked this other site for evidence that his career is foundering, which is hard to determine but doesn't seem to be the case.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/char...andler.htm

All I can say is, Alas....

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I see what you are trying to do. You're assailing my assumptions by using facts and numbers. I think that's a little underhanded, Cranefly. I have my preconceived notions and your cutting away my foundations of sand.

According to those charts, it doesn't look like Sandler is hurting in the BO department. Although he used to gee for a 100mil easy, but now it seems harder for him to get to that plateau. Although his films are relatively cheap to produce, with him being the largest hit against the budget, they probably make some good money. I just can't imagine going to see one.

[Drunk Monk]

No worries, Greg. I'm with you on this. I think we all are disappointed that Sandler is still a viable enough to make more movies. More is the shame. :goodman:

The film plays down its voice-actors all around. Selena Gomez isn't really at the forefront, and you'd think she would be given her stature in the film's demographic. The film seems more geared to her character than any of the others, and she, like the rest, just phones it in.

The good thing to come out of this is that T was inspired about what to be for Halloween. She had been waffling, and the task of costume motivation had been delegated to yours truly as I am more into costuming than my dear wife, so at least T now has some direction.