Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs – Review

Sony Pictures Animation isn’t the studio most movie nerds think about when it comes to 3D animation awesomeness, but maybe it should be. I don’t want to upset any Pixar enthusiasts that might be reading this, but Sony has previously hit the jack pot with Surf’s Up, and  Monster House. Both of those flicks were really solid entries into their animation canon, and now fans can add Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to Sony’s list of killer films.

I wasn’t a familiar with the children’s book that this flick is based on, but my kids are, and they were extremely excited to see the movie.

Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) is an inventor that can’t quite hit the mark when it comes to inventing something useful. Ever since he was a young boy he dreamed of someday changing the world with one of his inventions, but every time he unveiled an invention it backfired on him. When Flint’s dad Tim (James Caan) flexes his mighty unibrow and demands his son give up on his failed inventions and come to work with him in the family owned sardine and tackle shop, Flint decides to give inventing one last shot. Somehow the invention works and Flint’s little town puts the burden of their survival on his shoulders.

I was really impressed with the animation on this picture as well as the 3D. The voice cast was awesome, the sound was stellar, and the story held my interest. Mr. T’s voice was a pleasant surprise as the town cop Earl, and Neil Patrick Harris, Bruce Campbell, Anna Faris all did a phenomenal job.

It’s not everyday that you get to see a spaghetti tornado or an ice cream snow storm. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is quality family entertainment with the type of visuals that spark imaginations. My kid came home after this picture and went into his room, but not before telling me that he was headed into his lab to work on a new invention. A good film can entertain you, but a killer film can inspire you. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was positively a killer film.

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