3D Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs (2009); animated family comedy film review

Poster artwork for the comedy family animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.

Culinary Chaos by Linh

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is another 3D animated feature film, with more expected to follow as the cinematic technology grows in popularity with audiences. Sony Pictures Animation unites with Columbia Pictures to present a fun and light-hearted family film based on Judi Barrett's children's book of the same name.

INNOVATIVE INVENTION: Flint (voice of Bill Hader) tests his fantastic food machine in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs follows the life of an intrepid inventor, Flint Lockwood, from childhood to adulthood, whose goal in life is to invent something that will benefit humankind.

Flint lives on the island of Swallow Falls with his father Tim Lockwood, and has created numerous gadgets and gizmos that have all ended in disaster for him, his family and the community.

Among his mildly successful inventions are the spray-on shoes and the Monkey Thought Translator, which he attaches to his pet monkey named Steve. This is very similar to the voice translator as seen in the Pixar animated film, Up, which is worn on the dogs.

Flint comes up with an idea to create food by adding water, with an aim to solve the world's hunger crisis. Unfortunately, things go wrong and his food machine is blasted into the air where the water from clouds causes the machine to rain hamburgers. Flint achieves instant fame and popularity, with many requests flowing in from everyone, such as ice-cream, steak, pancakes, lollies, hotdogs etc. It all goes awry, when Nature fights back, causing Spaghetti and Meatball cyclones and floods.

BURGER BONANZA: Flint revels in the success of his food machine in a shower of hamburgers in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

The voice cast gives a fantastic performance with some standout moments and unexpected surprises, but with mostly predictable outcomes. Saturday Night Live regular Bill Hader voices Flint Lockwood with much appeal and the audience can sympathise with his failed attempts in creating unique and beneficial inventions. Flint's only friend and trusted companion is his pet monkey named Steve, who wears Flint's Monkey Thought Translator and is usually hungry and loves eating Gummi bears.

After her surprise comedy hit The House Bunny, Anna Faris again shows off her comedic charms in her portrayal of the cute, feisty and intelligent weather reporter Sam Sparks, whose big break arrives when she is the first in the world to report on the hamburger rain in Swallow Falls.

Former Law and Order regular, Benjamin Bratt, voices Sam Sparks' stoic camera operator, Manny, whose secret hidden talents are unexpectedly revealled at the most crucial times. Bratt gives Manny the right amount of mystery and affability despite being mostly seen and seldom heard in many scenes.

WEATHER WISE: Sam Sparks (Anna Faris) announces a breakfast shower of bacon and eggs in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

The film is peppered with some cheesy food-related puns, some corny visual gags and the characters need further development for the audience to really connect with them and their plight.

The story features strong messages about responsible use of new technology, personal gain versus public benefit and the obesity problem.

FOOD FUN: Earl (Mr. T) and his son Cal (Bobb'e Thompson) share a father and son moment in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs may not have the intense charm of Dreamworks' animation or the emotional pull of Pixar's animated films, but it is an entertaining, engaging and visually delightful family film. A sequel to this film will be released in 2013.

A PASTA DISASTER: The spaghetti and meatballs tornado leaves a trail of destruction behind in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.

Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord

Writers: Judi Barrett (book), Phil Lord (screenplay), Chris Miller (screenplay)

Voice Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr T., Neil Patrick Harris, Benjamin Bratt, Bobb'e Thompson, Al Roker, Lauren Graham.

Producers: Pam Marsden, Lydia Bottegoni, Chris Juen,Yair Landau

Original Music Composer: Mark Mothersbaugh

Film Editor: Robert Fisher Jr.  

Production: Justin Thompson (Production Designer), Michael Kurinsky (Art Director)

 

Running Time: 1 hour and 21 minutes.

FOOD FRIENDS: Flint (Bill Hader) and Steve the monkey (Neil Patrick Harris) share love of food and technology in the animated film Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Image: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation.