Parents' Guide to Hotel Transylvania 2

Although it has some clearly positive messages about family unity and diversity, this isn't the sort of animated comedy you'll return to again and again. It will surely amuse kids -- especially those who enjoyed the original -- but it's not likely to make a lasting impression on parents. Still, everyone will laugh when Drac and his crew of monster pals try to school young Dennis in the ways of monsterdom. And there's a fun bit of stunt casting: Mel Brooks as Vlad, Drac's prejudiced vampire father, who isn't tolerant of humans but has been invited to Dennis' birthday party.

Sandler, who co-wrote the script, fills it with kid-targeted humor, and the cast is pleasant enough, but some of the jokes fall flat or linger a beat too long before the punchline. There's also the strange case of slacker Jonathan still seeming like a teen when, by all accounts, he's about 27 for the bulk of this installment. Parents will appreciate the way the story pokes fun at the hypervigilant ways of today's parenting styles. It's best depicted when Drac takes Dennis to his old vampire camp, which is now so tame that the counselors spot, coddle, and sing with the young vampires. While Hotel Transylvania 2 isn't a great movie, it's a fine family pick for the Halloween season.