Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

Directors:

Phil Lord
Chris Miller

Writers:

Judi Barrett (book)
Ron Barrett (book)

Release Date:

18 September 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Family

Tagline:

Prepare to get served

Plot:

The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain. |

Plot Keywords:

Food | 3 Dimensional | Computer Animation

US Showtimes:

Culver Plaza Theatres

12:00pm | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00

(personalize)

Cast

Bill Hader	...	Flint Lockwood (voice)
Anna Faris	...	Sam Sparks (voice)
James Caan	...	Tim Lockwood (voice)
Andy Samberg	...	'Baby' Brent (voice)
Bruce Campbell	...	Mayor Shelbourne (voice)
Mr. T	...	Earl Devereaux (voice)
Bobb'e J. Thompson	...	Cal Deveraux (voice)
Benjamin Bratt	...	Manny (voice)
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Steve (voice)
Al Roker	...	Patrick Patrickson (voice)
Lauren Graham	...	Fran Lockwood (voice)
Will Forte	...	Joe Towne (voice)
Max Neuwirth	...	Young Flint (voice)
Peter Siragusa	...	Rufus (voice)
Angela Shelton	...	Regina Devereaux (voice)

Also Known As:

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: An IMAX 3D Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief mild language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Japan:G | Argentina:Atp | USA:PG | USA:PG (certificate #45404) | Ireland:G | Singapore:G | UK:U | South Korea:All | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:Livre | Netherlands:AL | Australia:G | New Zealand:G | South Africa:PG

Company:

Sony Pictures Animation

Trivia:

Earl Devereaux's has the exact opposite hairstyle his voice actor, Mr. T. Instead of a T-shaped mohawk, Earl sports a T-shaped bald patch.

Quotes:

Sam Sparks: You may have seen a meteor shower, but I bet you've never seen a shower "meatier" than this.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs "The Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 20,000 Feet (#5.3)" (1963)

Soundtrack:

Promises

Surprisingly imaginative, original and very funny

Living in the UK, I had never heard of the children's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and to be honest, I thought it sounded a little too peculiar and odd for my tastes going by the title and trailers. However, being a big fan of animated movies, I decided to take the risk and judge the movie for myself; and I'm so glad I did.

Not only does Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs have a quirky, thoughtful and imaginative storyline, it also exudes humour through its likable characters, discerning messages and vivid visual style. Telling the tale of a young man's quest to become an inventor, the film shies away from numerous Disney clichés creating a unique and original world full of colour and inspired characters. Unlike most Dreamworks animations, the characters are fully developed and rounded without the need for countless A-list celebrity voice-overs. The screenplay is similarly outstanding in terms of humour with countless laugh-out-loud moments that will appeal to both adults and children alike.

The animation and visual style of the film isn't up to the stunning beauty of the latest Pixar movies such as Ratatouille or WALL-E but it certainly exudes a similar level of ingeniousness, creativity and originality as seen in such movies. Albeit, amongst the wild plot and genuinely hilarious dialogue lies a subtle moral tale of parental recognition, portion sizes and personal confidence.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs took me by surprise, I went into the cinema expecting an average computer generated movie incomparable with today's best of the genre and came out astonished by the sheer creativity oozing from every aspect of the film.

8/10.