LinhCloudy With A Chance of Meatballs in 3D (Advanced Screening) - animated family comedy film review
November 25th 2009 05:06
Culinary Chaos by Linh
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is the latest animated feature film to screen in 3D, 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.
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 himself, his family and the community.
Among his mildy successful inventions are the 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 icecream, steak, pancakes, lollies, hotdogs etc.
It all goes awry, when Nature fights back, causing Spaghetti and Meatball cyclones and floods.
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 agains 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 revealled at the most appropriate times. Bratt gives Manny the right amount of mystery and affability despite being mostly seen and seldom heard in many scenes.
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.
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. Sony Pictures Animation is currently producing The Smurfs Movie and is no doubt continuing to explore the wonders of 3D technology.
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
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.
Writers: Judi Barrett (book), Phil Lord, Chris Miller (screenplay)
Producers: Pam Marsden, Lydia Bottegoni, Chris Juen,Yair Landau
Music: Mark Mothersbaugh
Running Time: 1 hour and 21 minutes.
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 is the latest animated feature film to screen in 3D, 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.
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.
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 himself, his family and the community.
Among his mildy successful inventions are the 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 icecream, steak, pancakes, lollies, hotdogs etc.
It all goes awry, when Nature fights back, causing Spaghetti and Meatball cyclones and floods.
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 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 agains 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 revealled at the most appropriate times. Bratt gives Manny the right amount of mystery and affability despite being mostly seen and seldom heard in many scenes.
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.
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.
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.
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. Sony Pictures Animation is currently producing The Smurfs Movie and is no doubt continuing to explore the wonders of 3D technology.
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.
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
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.
Writers: Judi Barrett (book), Phil Lord, Chris Miller (screenplay)
Producers: Pam Marsden, Lydia Bottegoni, Chris Juen,Yair Landau
Music: Mark Mothersbaugh
Running Time: 1 hour and 21 minutes.
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