I enjoyed the first two entries in this trilogy more than most viewers, but I couldn't be sure that I'd like the threequel. Some posters show the vampires at the beach by day, suggesting excessive deviation from the previous setup. Interestingly, while IMDb votes reflect diminishing returns for the series, Rotten Tomatoes reports a gradual climb. I didn't dare check it out in a theater and might never have gotten around to streaming it, but after my dissatisfaction with an art film, I needed...well, a vacation.
Dracula (Adam Sandler) appreciates the many happily married couples at his hotel, not least his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) and son-in-law Johnny (Andy Samberg), but they make him miss his long-gone wife. Mavis thinks his stress comes from being too busy for family time, so she arranges a vacation on a cruise ship that caters to monsters but still has a place for humans like Johnny. Indeed, Captain Ericka (Kathryn Hahn) is human -- and immediately sparks the romantic interest of Drac, of all monsters. He's concerned that this is not what Mavis had in mind for their trip. He should be more concerned with how Ericka really feels....
Even if you haven't seen the trailer, it wouldn't take you long to guess or, at worst, discover that Ericka hails from the Van Helsing clan, sworn to kill monsters, especially Dracula. His oldest foe, her great grandfather (Jim Gaffigan), retains a preternaturally long lifespan with a semi-steampunk body. Not only has he led her to hate monsters, but upon her first meeting with Drac, she wants to jump the gun on his plan to lead them into a death trap. Why so fervent? Maybe because he stirs another intense emotion that she wants to deny herself.
Yeah, a little savvy will tell you it's that kind of story. I'm relieved to know that the makers didn't put a stake in the series' heart for the sake of extra money. There's still warmth to be found amid the humor.
On that note, Mavis must have a broad sense of family, because pretty much all the major characters from before, along with no doubt countless new additions to the werewolf family, come along on the cruise. And I thought her grandfather (Mel Brooks) was a stretch for inviting. Her young son Dennis (Asher Blinkoff), who'd been central to the previous plot, has been reduced to an optional role on par with werewolf Winnie (Sadie Sandler), who has become more openly affectionate toward him than he feels ready for; together, they serve mainly to sneak his giant puppy aboard, which works because every character is gullible.
What can I say? HT was never big on brains, apart from the disembodied floating kind. It was always about high-energy Gothic gags with slightly stilted animation. There remain a few moments of juvenile vulgarity, but at least they're not over the top. They're almost cute, in keeping with the overall vibe.
It's a little hard to rank, but I tentatively deem HT3 my second favorite of the bunch. If you like either of the prior entries, you'll probably find this worth a watch. Oh, and before I forget, the posters lied: Every scene is by night.
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