Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

So much average

disgusting, overrated, pointless

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This movie movie isn't that great, but its funny and absurd. The animation is fantastic, and the movie is very fun. I'd recommend this movie, but be warned that it does get a bit stupid.

Back in 2009 when Sony Pictures Animation released their animated film adaptation of the children's book of the same name, I loved it at the age of ten. Watching in recently however, I find it pretty mediocre. That's not to say I hate it or anything, this is just a case of a form of media from childhood that didn't really age well...for me at least.In terms of what works, the real highlight of the film is the animation on the food, from the quantity, to the size, to especially the colors. I always found food to look a million times better in animation than in real life, and this movie is no exception. Not to mention, the animators found a lot of creative methods to build the food as either houses or amusement rides. Adding on to that, some of the jokes are pretty funny, although others are rather juvenile. The fathers Earl and Tim are the most likable and charming characters in the whole film, especially since they want what's best for their children in spite of their oddball antics. Lastly, I admire the different inventions the filmmakers created that definitely fit with the movie's imaginative touch. Unfortunately, what doesn't work is the story, as it comes off as too cliche and predictable for it's own good using the same old underdog story we've seen before. I was able to predict everything that was going to happen, and the main character Flint Lockwood is way too dorky and obnoxious for his own good. The rest of the cast are either forgettable, annoying, just there to get a laugh, or are just pointless entirely (although Sam Sparks is enjoyably quirky in her own right). Also, I get that they wanted to make the characters cartoony to fit with the movie's oddball nature, but their designs are so simplistic and so over the top that it looks both ridiculous and awkward, and the animators were trying way too hard with the wackiness. Not to mention, while the subplot with Flint's father-son relation is heartwarming enough, it feels overshadowed by juvenile humor, pointless moments with Flint and other residents, and I was left much to be desired. Once again, I don't hate this movie by any means, I just don't like it as much as I used to. While I admire the food visuals, the occasional likable and silly character, some of the jokes, and message to never give up on your dreams, the predictable story, majority pos obnoxious characters, and annoying character animation keep me from enjoying it all the way through. If you love the book more than you're better off with that, but if you do have a soft spot for this movie than definitely have fun with it. You'll certainly gain a bigger appetite that I did.

There's nothing wrong with the animation, art design or production values of this animated feature. Nothing wrong with the arc of the main story either (structurally or morally), or with the voice acting.The reason I couldn't really get into it is that nobody acts like a real person; all the characters act like Hollywood stereotypes imagined by someone who doesn't actually have friends. It never feels like a single character in the film is actually real or has a soul, so it's hard to care about what's going on, aside from admiring it in the sense one might admire a roller coaster ride. A few days before I saw this, I watched the animated "A Christmas Carol" which came out the same year, and it is a great contrast; I could actually believe that the people in "Christmas Carol" were real and care about what happened to them, despite the ridiculous roller-coaster action sequences (which both films have).The other thing which bugged me is that nobody in "Meatballs" has to work hard to make something they want happen; they just have to really want it and then suddenly they can easily do it. Inventor builds multi-million dollar lab and inventions effortlessly (the complete polar opposite of what actual work in science is like). Fat guy (near the end) suddenly becomes martial arts master just because he really, really wants to and the plot requires it.It gives the wrong lesson about the value of work and discipline (namely, that one doesn't need them, that just to have a good idea is enough), but the primary fault is that it just made it hard for me to care about what was going on in the movie, particularly as none of the characters even felt relatable in the first place.

It's such a fun and creative concept, who wouldn't want to see delicious food falling from the sky. Seems nice in theory but I'm sure it would be pretty sticky and smell quite bad.Because it's so imaginative it makes up for the one-dimensional characters. They may not have a lot of personality but they certainly have a lot of heart. It's just one aspect but they don't make the movie for me.It's the animation that makes it a memorable classic family film. It's beautifully colourful and has a nice amount of intricate details. They have really made the effort to create a wonderful world that enchants you.