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‘Hotel Transylvania 3: Monster Vacation’: Tries too hard to please (Review)

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By Subhash K. Jha
Film: “Hotel Transylvania 3: Monster Vacation’; Director: Genndy Tartakovsky; Voiceovers by Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez and Kathryn Hahn; Rating: **

Just when you feel happy about animation films coming of age with “The Incredibles 2”, the sheer juvenile delinquency of this franchise over-reacher knocks you senseless.

“Hotel Transylvania 3” sees smudges of psychedelic colours applied to characters who are so broad that they seem drawn with the pencil of preposterousness. There is nothing subtle about “Hotel Transylvania”, which miraculously has reached Stage 3 without making any effort to broaden the bandwidth of its splashy bacchanalia.

No wonder Count Dracula (voiced ably by Adam Sandler) is stuck in a time warp. He is supposedly over 500 years old. This is how old I felt after sitting through this dreadful mishmash of ill-conceived ghoul, though alas not so cool, gags and cyber stunts that make the animation characters look like creatures in a pop-out book for nursery school-goers.

The humour tried hard to be urbane. And some of the situations on-board a vacation cruise where Dracula falls in love with the sassy and seductive captain of the ship Erica (voiced with a smouldering splendour by Katheryn Hahn) are smile-inducing, specially the way Dracula goes mooney-eyed and zonked-out on seeing Erica, and the way Dracula’s disapproving daughter Mavis (nicely voiced by Selena Gomez) watches the growing romance between her father and ship-riped stranger.

But then Erica has a hidden agenda. A-ha! She is not what she seems. The vendetta angle reminded me of the 1969 Bollywood film “Inteqaam”.

The smudgy splashy pandemonium done in a breathless rush works only for those who treat the movie-going experience as a joyride contained in a bag of popcorn. For those of us who thought animation films from Hollywood had attained a state of maturation after “The Incredibles 2”, this film comes as a rumbustious jolt, reminding us that the “intelligence” applied to virtual entertainment has more to do with the colloquial communication conventions of the social media than any genuine passion for carrying forward the cinematic torch.

Torn between a family saga of monsters pleading for legitimacy, and a roller-coaster fun escapade for audiences who think a giggle is all the reward we need for braving it into a multiplex, this film just exasperates you with its gimmicks and gags. It tries too hard to please.

At the outset when Dracula’s daughter suggests a vacation to get over the vacation crowds at the eponymous hotel, what we don’t know is, we would need a vacation from animation to get over this one.

–IANS
skj/rb/bg

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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