Layered laughs make ‘Hotel’ spooky fun

It’s as rare as vampires on a beach to have a movie sequel be better than the original. But vampires might start looking for some sunglasses because the spookiest thing about “Hotel Transylvania 2” is how much funnier, colorful and more original it is this second time around.

There was nothing particularly wrong – or right – with the animated 2012 movie. It was just a series of lightweight jokes in a movie that proved Adam Sandler, who voices Dracula, should be heard and not seen.

In the sequel, Dracula’s daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) makes the vampire a grandpa – a vampa. Everyone is waiting to see if Dennis will be like his mom and sprout fangs or like his dad and be human. If Dennis doesn’t get his fangs by the time he turns 5, it will be too late. Dracula plans to scare the monster into the infant.

One reason the film works so much better is that the action is divided between life in the monster and human worlds. Mavis starts to think it might be safer to raise Dennis in California.

Dracula and his motley crew learn their world has been modernized to the point that they are more rock stars than feared creatures. They live in a world where the scariest creatures are lawyers ready to sue if something goes wrong.

At the same time, Mavis is learning there are some weird creatures who haunt California.

Genndy Tartakovsy returns as director, and he’s kicked up the energy. The script by Sandler and Robert Smigel blends effective slapstick comedy with some equally smart references for horror film aficionados.

The director has layered the comedy so well, it’s difficult to see all of the funny material happening in the background through a single viewing.

“Hotel Transylvania 2” features many of the actors Sandler often uses in his movies. David Spade brings just the right loser tone to the role of the Invisible Man. Kevin James’ Frankenstein is so fun, he could survive in his own spin-off film.

“Hotel Transylvania 2” is the kind of high energy, colorful movie that will keep youngsters interested and entertained. At the same time, the humor is smart and the story sweet enough that parents won’t mind sitting through this tale.