It’s familiar stuff, but also unmistakably entertaining.

There are two running gags in Hotel Transylvania 2, and both are not directed at the children. One deals with overprotective parents, the other with over political correctness.

The film emerges ultimately as a modern-day moral-parable about a checklist of virtues: acceptance, self-discovery, family, belonging to one’s roots and so forth. It is still useful, however, for how it is so typical — its study can reveal a template for how most mainstream animation films are made, always in relation to the other films produced by the same industry.

Hotel Transylvania 2, is about the need for open mindedness in life and love, in its entirety is a feel good and fun film which is neither ghoulish nor overtly comical, where the message is simply lost.

Backed by a delightful cast and animation effects that are thankfully not over-the-top and too gaudy, Hotel Transylvania 2 is subtly intelligent and is a film that even the adults among the audience will not get fidgety sitting through – thanks to some scary images, exciting action and rude humor – while the kids have a ball.

There’s so much waxing and waning that you just can’t hold tight to the good things. The climax is also quite chaotic and repelling-especially since it suggests there’s a no 3 on the way… certainly, that’s not something we want to go through again?

The characters may look scary, but they are extremely endearing. Also, the dialogues are hilarious. And with a run-time of just ninety minutes, it’s a must-­watch for both the young and the old.

The movie has its funny bits (the vampire GPS is hilarious) and Dennis is cute as a button, tousled red curls and all.

The film is not wildly inventive though.

Littered with clichés and rehashed gags, the sequel’s strength rests on the impressive art and animation. The simplistic gags might just work with young audiences.

It’s hard to recommend Hotel Transylvania 2 to moviegoers who don’t have children in tow. This one is only for the little ones.