Review – Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Review – Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Featuring the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Mr. T, Bruce Campbell, Andy Samberg, and James Caan. Rated PG for some brief mild language.

Still number one at the box office is the 3-D animated extravaganza Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. Based on the beloved children’s book (okay, at least it was one of MY favorites), the movie tells the story of an inventor who wants nothing more than for his father to be proud of him. In a town on a small island where sardines are the major export (in fact, the only export), Flint Lockwood invents a machine that can create food. When the machine is accidentally launched into the sky, it becomes a food/weather generator, and hilarity ensues.

I don’t usually go to kid movies in the theater, mainly because I don’t have kids. If my nieces and nephew are visiting, I enjoy taking them to the movies. But I got a pass for a sneak preview of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, and I’m glad I attended.

This movie was a lot of fun. I found myself laughing through a good majority of it – the character of Flint Lockwood alone (voiced by Bill Hader) was enough to keep me in stitches. The way he announced everything he was doing in the lab (“calculating…mixing…adding…pushing buttons) was pretty hilarious. Mr. T was also a treat as the “sheriff” of the town who was a constant thorn in Flint’s side, and vice versa. And Bruce Campbell shines as the Mayor who wants to get his town noticed by the rest of the world.

What stood out about the film, aside from the clever humor, was the outstanding animation. I am always amazed at the level of animation in movies these days. After a few minutes, it’s easy to forget that you’re watching a “cartoon.” Throw in the effect of 3-D (by the way, if you haven’t been to a 3-D movie in awhile, do yourself a favor and check one out. Gone are the days of 3-D movies with the blue and red glasses where everything has a pinkish/purplish tint to it. The new 3-D will blow your mind), and you have a beautiful looking movie that is entertaining for kids and adults alike.

Overall rating: a cheeseburger, a meatball, a slice of pizza, and an ice cream cone.

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