Movie Review: Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

You know, its always hard to talking about some of animation studio aren't as good that we wanted to see for potential, like "ImageMovers Digital" that they only made two animated motion capture movies for Disney, one of them is the most the absolute worst one that it killed off the business is "Mars Needs Moms" and lets just acting like it'll never happen anymore.

But one company that some people didn't like, it will be Sony Pictures Animation. I know Sony has a flaws with some of bad movies, but for their animation work, its a very different story that they wanted to appeal for kids for their family friendly films. But there's one film that it had a tiny reputation before the company became a punching bag of bad movies, case in point, "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs".

Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs is a 2009 animated comedy film that was written/directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (the famous director duos for their debut) and produced by Pam Marsden.

This is the film that i was very curious as a teenager but didn't bought the DVD, but seen it from activity club and even on TV that i programmed and i though it was awesome and funny.

Not to mention, when i was doing a research, it turns out it was different that it was loosely based on the book with a same name, thats its about a fantasy weather phenomena of a food falling from the sky for unknown reason. Which i was even more curious that i wanna buy a book that it was released in 1978.

So, as i grew to an adult, will this movie hold up that i love, or it could change my opinion that i'd rather get a pie in the face from the sky?

The Story
This obvious to tell that it was very cliche story that we've heard before.

It tells about Flint Lockwood, a genius dreamer that he wants to inventing to change the world, but failed multiple times (except for his "spray-on-shoe"). Later on, he and his father Tim packed up to "Swallow Fall" to working on sardine shop, where everyone only eats sardines (it could've been worse, there might another village where everyone are forced to eating congealed pork blood), so Flint decides to creating his own food machine to adding water to creating food. But he tested outside, it failed that the machine flies to the sky, but not before it created the weather of food raining, which it made him succeed, but little he didn't know, its because the mayor of "Swallow Fall" got so much intention to Flint's invention that he wants more, which it causing a natural disaster in the town, its up to Flint and his friends to stop the machine before it'll cause all over the world.

Like i said, its the same story that we've heard before, a scientist wants to invent to change the world, but causing danger, you know the drill. But the idea of creating of a machine make food raining is an interesting concept, but not for the execution from again, the obvious cliche. Aside that, there are two subplots in the film, one is the not-so-romantic relationship between Flint and Sam Spark, which although developed that she likes his invention or even hanging out together in the Jell-O house, but it might be a filler. and the other one is having a father and son relationship, most notably Earl Devereaux and his son Cal, where Earl warns at Flint that despite he believe he'll causing trouble, but also need to be connective with Flint's father like he does. Speaking of Flint's father, he also wants to be connective with Flint for working together and also for safety before again, causing trouble. It could work, but like before, its another filler. As for the jokes, they're rather low brow that i did chuckle of some of them, but other times, some jokes gets carrying on for dumb reaction, which il talk about the animation.

Though the story has an interesting concept, but in reality, it feels rather unoriginal for similar plot and two fillers.

The Animation
Well, since im talking about Sony's animation work, its surprise to tell that it looks...  Questionably, weirdly, cartoony bad?

For starter, the background looks rather nice, from depressing town of "Swallow Fall", to a fun and colorful place to changing to "Chewandswallow". And having full of random food in the town is actually looks again, fun, colorful and probably makes me feel hungry while watching it. Plus, the food animation is also well done for the detail, even we've seen previous animated film with better food detail like Pixar's Ratatouille.

Then there's the character designs and how it goes the animation is just rather quick pace and waaaay too cartoony looking, it would've been ok for an hand-drawn animation, but because of "3D animation equals money", they decide to made it in the most sloppiest way ever made with mentioned low brow jokes and obnoxious facial reaction that it almost makes me wanna looking away from the screen. I know they wanted to appeal for the kids to enjoy the old fashion fast pace comedy, but it felt like either expired or even embarrassing to look at. Or otherwise, it could be worse for Sony's later animated films...

The animation is color and nice detail with foods, though the character designs and animation aren't helping to be silly looking design.

The Characters
Though i expected for some characters have likability, but they aren't as interest that we expected.

Starting off is Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader, aka Fear from Inside Out), he's a typical genius scientist that he wants to invent something to change the world, but he's kinda being a selfish that he wants to be successful, but again, failed in disaster. Though i have nothing against Bill Hader, but i don't he deserves better for being in this film which he's not only generic, but kinda annoying.

While the rest are all one dimensional that i don't have any way to explain, Sam Spark (voiced by Anna Faris) is not just a typical love interest, but also a boring character, Brent (voiced by Andy Samberg) is not only an infamous mascot of sardine, but also a annoying comic relief along with monkey talk Steven (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris), The Mayor (voiced by Bruce Campbell, aka Ash Williams from Evil Dead) is not only a typical villain for manipulation, but also an absolute selfish for the power, and Manny (voiced by Benjamin Bratt) is not only a stereotypical of Guatemalan, but he's also a forgettable character without any purposes.

Though sometimes it had some above average characters, with a plot element of father and son relationship. Like Earl Devereaux (voiced by the famous Mr. T, Fool!), despite im kinda surprised that Mr. T does a voice acting of this character, he maybe a likable character, even though he's like a Mexican jumping-bean, but he has a connective relation to his son for how he cared him than Flint's parent. Especially the scene where Earl's son has a gift from Flint in the village of ice cream, which its actually a very sweet moment (no pun attended).

And lastly is Flint's father, Tim (voiced by James Caan), despite being a technophobic father, but like Earl, he cared his son for safety reason, which it makes sense that he's trying to grab attention to Flint for not only be safe, but connecting together for their business and caring.

The characters are soo bellow average for one dimensional personalities and even forgettable main hero. Even though the fathers like Earl and Tim are more respectful how we like, despite the father and son relationship are nothing but filler.

Spoiler Alert if you haven't seen the movie or if you don't care.

The final act aren't as any special to say, Flint and his friends working together going in the giant meatball to stop the machine be the natural disaster all over the world, which Flint obviously did. As for "Chewandswallow", its all about trying to get out the town after the dam was destroyed from over the limit of foods. As for the Mayor, he's just disappeared at the end of the movie, never to be heard nor mention again. Flint stop the machine, reunites his father, first kiss to Sam, then they live happily ever after, roll the credits.

Again, the ending aren't any special to say about this movie.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs" is rather an average film, i like the concept of foods falling from the sky and a nice animation of the foods and backgrounds. but when you bring an unoriginal story, choppy character's animation, generic characters and low-level ending, you just get a very boring film. Of course, this movie has a divided opinion, like where Hewy Toonmore liked this movie for his positive opinion, while others like AniMat hated this movie so much. But for me, it was rather average opinion.

And is it really a worst movie? Not really, its not as bad than some of later films that they're either no specialty or an absolute disgraceful since "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies". Again, it has a divided reaction whether Sony did alright or even unwatchable. But, we have an upcoming film in this year such as "Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse", which i hope they don't F***ed it up. As for "Hotel Transylvania 3"? I won't even bother to look at for unnecessary reason.

Oh, and you're probably wondering about "Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs 2"? Well, its not the best sequel ever made, its a bad animated sequel version of "Pacific Rim Uprising", but five years before i watched.

For my rating of this movie, il give it a 5/10. Im not sure if il recommend to see it if you like or hate this movie or Sony's animated studio.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on Pateron.com/Blackevil915 for your big request.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.