Film Review: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

Posted by: – Sep 24, 2009

CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS!

The bizarre town of Chewandswallow makes its big screen debut in the new CGI animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. The impressive feature, now showing in regular, 3-D and IMAX 3-D formats, is based very loosely on the 1978, children’s book of the same name written by Judi Barrett and beautifully illustrated by Ron Barrett. The film opened in 3,119 theaters last weekend with the number one total box office sales ($30.3M) beating out The Informant! ($10.5M), and Love Happens ($8.1M).

I have to admit I was worried when Sony Pictures announced they were doing the film in 2006. I was worried that they would stray too far from the original story of one of my most cherished books from childhood. I was worried that the animation would be so far removed from Ron Barrett’s rich, striking illustrations that it would be unrecognizable. All of my biggest fears for this project came true, but instead of a horrible disaster, it was a delightfully goofy comedy suitable for a wide audience. The most memorable illustrations from the book were definitely done justice in the film.

When I say the film is very loosely based on the book, what I really mean is that the only and I mean only, thing they have in common is weather patterns involving food. In the beloved children’s book, Ron Barrett’s beautiful drawings illustrate the story of two kids and their grandfather who regales them with the tale of Chewandswallow. In Chewandswallow there are no restaurants or grocery stores because it rains food. Peas, pancakes, orange juice, hotdogs, and bagels hale from huge clouds of cheeseburgers and mashed potatoes. Denizens of Chewandswallow simply hold out a plate and watch the giant Jell-o mold sun set over the valley. Unfortunately it occasionally rains liver and onions, schools are some times crushed by giant pancakes and citizens are sporadically chased by giant donuts. Finally, weary of the growing not-so-delicious downpours, the townspeople decide to sail away on boats made of bread to start over in a place where food comes from more conventional places, like the grocery store.

SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH TO AVIOD SPOILERS FOR THE FILM!

In the film a young, blundering scientist, Flint Lockwood, mistakenly shoots an invention that converts water into the operators desired food order into the sky. A young, bumbling, nerd-girl, weather intern, Sam Sparks, discovers that his invention uses precipitation in the clouds as the material for making victuals. Boy meets girl and meaty meteorology follows. Then a gluttonous mayor’s diabolical scheme to revive the town’s bad economy (and diet) with this strange new kind of food tourism threatens the town with bigger bites than can they can chew.

OK, IT'S SAFE NOW.

Food puns aside, this movie is freaking awesome. The lead protagonist is love able, nerdy guy so full of life and ideas and adventures. His leading lady is super cute, even after her nerdy make-under. The story, while straying as far as possible from the original book is inventive and original. There is real chemistry among the surprisingly eclectic cast voiced by SNL players, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader and Will Forte, along with Anna Faris, James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Neil Patrick Harris and Mr. T.

The animation in the film is marvelous. Literally, I marveled at it. I will definitely be heading back to a 3-D showing soon. I can’t wait to see flying pizza slices, cheese burger rain and giant spaghetti tornadoes. I don’t know if you have seen any CGI movies lately but I was blown away. The animation in this flick was spectacular. I really can’t recall seeing anything that looked that good even in pretty recent CGI jams like Up! and Madagascar. I think Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs would truly appeal to people of all ages. Kids and nerdy indie rockers alike will love it. The Mark Mothersbaugh soundtrack will earn you major street cred when ironically played at your next dinner party.

By Lauren Vincelli