Monster Family

Monster movie more like. And not the way it sounds, rather the way it looks.

Animation is at the heart of imagination's revolution. Some of the best ideas and inventive storylines are rooted in what used to be called "cartoon features". A witty script will melt grown-ups' natural suspicion of what they consider childish and silly characters, such as talking animals, captivate pre-teens. However, getting the mix right is surprisingly difficult.

Monster Family is an example of getting it so, so wrong. The plot stumbles into an abyss early. There is nothing left because there was nothing here in the first place.

Count Dracula looks and sounds like Tom Hiddleston despite being voiced by Jason Isaacs. He has a crush on a suburban mom (Emily Watson taking a break from her heavy dramatic roles) who becomes victim of a witch's spell. Dad is transformed into Frankenstein's creature and her youngest turned into a ginger terrier, possibly a werewolf pup, while mom grows fangs and hungers for the warm red.

Why?

Drax wants to have his evil way with mom. Dad is as thick as a brick. The kids don't care.

The animation is fine. The voice cast deserves better. The writers lost their will to live and caved.

The film makes no sense. Perhaps that's the point. Real magic is like bad drugs. It messes with your head.

If you fall asleep don't feel guilty. Your dreams will be more entertaining than this.