So I decided that maybe I should see “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” I wasn’t sure of that movie yet but I have to admit that that movie was so funny. Is it really the best animated film since “Up?” No. It wouldn’t really give “Up” or the rest of the Pixar releases a run for its money but it sure is delightful.

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” tells the story of the worst inventor named Flint. Every year he always dreams of making an inventions, but they go horribly wrong. But one day, he made an invention that successfully worked where food comes from the sky. Although Flint’s father doesn’t appreciate him of the invention, Flint soon gets interviews and is on the air until one of these days, his invention becomes a total mess.

I will have to admit that there are some movies that are not worth an IMAX ticket, and this movie will have to be one of them. Yet again, it does work on many levels as a 3D film. The 3D was spectacular and if you have a local theater offering it in 3D, check it out on the big screen.

The animation was very good. The story seemed silly but there are moments that will make you laugh. I don’t mind animated movies as much as the next guy but when it comes to me, I just go craving for the Pixar releases. But “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” sure will make children laugh. The jokes itself were pretty good and the characters were very funny, cute and cuddly. The punchlines are somewhat original and refreshing.

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” sure will delight kids of all ages. It’s very entertaining, very funny and a laugh out loud riot for the whole family so take your kids to see it. But don’t expect this movie to win the Best Animated Feature Film when its Oscar season.

The premise, revolving around a inventor who can’t seem to find success no matter how hard he tries, reminded me a lot of “Meet the Robinsons” and has in common with meet the Robinsons that it is also based off of a children’s book A Day with Wilbur Robinson, successfully expands the story of its source material, and has a unique and kooky sense of humor. The main character Flint Lockwood even has wild hair, reminiscent of Lewis in that they both stick out a lot.

The central plot in “Meatballs” revolves around this struggle for Flint to make a scientific invention that works, in which failed attempts include creatures such as “ratbirds” and “spray on shoes”, and gain acceptance from his father and from the town. He is working on an invention (for comedy purposes, I will not disclose the name of said invention) that will, he hopes, turn water in to food. This also coincides with the reopening of the town he lives (Swallow Falls) in, instituted by the Mayor Shelbourne (which is brilliantly voiced by Bruce Camopbell) to help bolster the failing economy, both the fate of the town and Flint collide at the reopening ceremony and kicks the film in to fast-paced odd-ball humor gear.

What made this movie so fresh, and yet so simultaneously jarring was the film’s unabashed silly sense of humor that plays very well of society’s cliches and roles that we accept for ourselves due to peer pressure and expectations. A lot of the humor will go over the heads of children, when I saw it, out of a theater that was about 1/4 full, I was the only one laughing for the first 30mins until other adults (with children) realized it was a-okay to laugh. There are definitely parts of the movie that will appeal to children, such as the idea of rain that is food, ice cram snow, and a good dose of slap-stick humor, but all of this is rounded out extremely well with a an awareness of its source material and the choice to flesh out the story.

The dynamics of the relationship between Flint and his father are just great, and certainly ring true for me and a lot of friends I know as well (not the dead mother part), but its nice to see a relationship like this handled sensitively and what I was expecting to be a mind-numbingly stupid movie. The dynamics between Sam and Flint is fun as well and while treading cliches actually makes what could have been a boring romantic side-story is actually fun and fresh.

The only quibble I have with this movie is the same thing I enjoyed so much about the movie, its silly and irreverent sense of humor, is also its biggest weakness. Even though the last 1/2 hour is completely ridiculous, it works and makes it a step above most supposedly children movies. This movie, for me, at least, is one that looks to be destined as a cult classic, it is wacky and silly enough to become one, but not mainstream or innovative enough in its script to become a classic movie.

If you enjoy movies that are silly and a bit out there that still have some brains, than you will definitely enjoy “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, if you don’t have a somewhat goofy and dry (almost British) sense of humor, than you probably should just ignore this. If anything, it will inspire more interest in its source material.

God Bless ~Amy

EDIT (11-19-09): Since I wrote this review, I read the book of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and is a good book, and I am very impressed with how they expand the story from the book, they did a very commendable job considering how short the book is.

PEACE OUT,

NIKITA PRASAD