Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

2009

Starring: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Neil Patrick Harris, Bruce Campbell, James Caan, Mr. T, and Andy Samberg

Written by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller based loosely on the book by Judi and Ron Barrett

Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Watch out for giant Pizzas! I was a fan of this book growing up and read it to my own children more than a few times and I had no idea how they were going to turn it into a movie. So the answer was to very loosely use the idea of food weather and write a new story around the basic idea.

The idea made me nervous as it always seems Hollywood always screws up that kind of transition.

So after the credits rolled I realized I was surprised at how well they did do this time around. The film is loud and proud with guest stars galore but at it’s heart is the simple concept of a young man struggling to find who he is and the woman who eventually falls for him.

Flint lives in Swallow Falls a island in the Atlantic which was a giant sardine producer whose businesses went under and the town was left to eat nothing but sardines. Flint is a failed iventor whose inventions usually end up in disaster but he never stops trying.

His latest invention turns water into food but he doesn’t have the power to fuel it. After his technophobic father tries to force him to work at the family bait and tackle shop, Flint steals away to use power from the local power plant. Meanwhile the mayor is unveiling Sardine Land, an amusement park he hopes will serve as a tourist destination.

The machine rockets off, destroying Sardine Land and ending up in the atmosphere which of course is where it starts working. And soon the town is peppered with foods of all sorts.

And Flint is a superstar.

Of course that’s where it starts going downhill, the people get greedy and inevitably disaster looms before Flint has to save the day and ultimately win his father’s approval and respect.

Overall it’s a fine film, especially given how little the source material had to offer. It’s dynamic, loud, and boisterous and yet still has a heart.

B+