Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
Based on the beloved children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs tells the tale of Flint Lockwood, an eccentric young inventor who spends his days in a makeshift laboratory, building monkey-thought translators, spray-on shoes, "hair unbalder" serums and other strange creations. Regarded as a troublemaker and a nuisance by the residents of the small town of Swallow Falls, Flint dreams of one day making something that will win their respect and earn him a place alongside the Edisons and Da Vincis of the world.
Flint thinks his latest invention, a machine that turns ordinary water into gourmet meals at the touch of a button, just might do the trick. But his big unveiling goes predictably awry when his machine launches like a rocket through Swallow Falls, laying waste to the town square before eventually disappearing into the stratosphere.
Just when it appears that the townsfolk have finally had enough of Flint's antics, salvation arrives in the form of cheeseburgers raining from the sky, thrilling the throngs of hungry people below. Success! Flint's machine actually works — albeit not quite in the manner he originally intended.
WHO'S IN IT?
Lending his voice to the character of Flint is Bill Hader, a Saturday Night Live regular who's appeared in small roles in a ton of high-profile comedies, including Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Anna Faris (The House Bunny) co-stars as Sam Sparks, a weathergirl whose bubbly on-screen persona masks a keen intellect she's terrified to reveal — lest she be branded a "nerd" and shunned by the community of shallow, talking-head news correspondents.
Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell voices the sleazy, manipulative Mayor Shelbourne, a wildly ambitious politician who eyes Flint's invention as his ticket to higher office. James Caan (The Godfather) plays Flint's well-meaning but emotionally distant father Tim, a blue-collar fisherman who can't find a way to relate to his brainy offspring. And fans of A-Team and Rocky III will instantly recognize the voice of Mr. T as Earl Devereaux, the tough-minded town cop whose job is devoted primarily to preventing Flint from inadvertently destroying the town. Rounding out the main cast is Neil Patrick Harris (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) as Flint's trusted monkey assistant, Steve.
WHAT'S GOOD?
The animation of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is truly a joy to behold. With each successive meal that falls from the sky comes a brilliant new array of patterns and colors, all of which burst from the screening in dazzling 3-D. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller rightly recognize the visual potential of the source material, with its endless variety of colorful food items, and serve up a delicious buffet of brilliantly-rendered set pieces.
But the film isn't just a bundle of digital eye candy. Perhaps most pleasantly surprising about the film is the script's sharp wit and clever observations, which help make the experience enjoyable on a cerebral as well as visceral level.
WHAT'S BAD?
Lord and Miller, who also co-wrote the adapted screenplay, did a generally solid job expanding the relatively thin source material for the big screen, but the story still feels weak at times. It's just engaging enough to keep you interested, but not quite enough to make a lasting impression.
PARTING SHOT
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is something of a culinary rollercoaster. As food first begins to fall from the sky, you might find yourself feeling a bit hungry. But as the plot progresses and Flint's machine starts to spin out of control, bombarding the town with every kind of slop imaginable, don't be surprised if your stomach starts to get a little queasy!
Hollywood.com rated this film 3 1/2 stars.