FILM FREAK: 2.5 buckets
MOVIE GEEK'S REVIEW:
The book on which this movie is based is about a man who tells his grandchildren the story of a town named Chewandswallow. In this town, the weather comes three times a day: at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Forget snow or rain, the weather that comes is always food and beverages.
When the storms of giant food cause floods, the population is forced to leave Chewandswallow on boats made of bread to start new lives in our world and adapt to an existence where the sky doesn't feed you.
The film adaptation's plotline is completely different.
Gone are the children and the grandfather and the passing down of the story of Chewandswallow. The film instead follows inventor Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) and his lifelong plight to invent something worthwhile. Lockwood becomes a hero to the town when his latest invention actually works, turning the water in the atmosphere into food.
Some viewers may be disappointed in the 360-degree turn in narrative, but it works for me. The new characters are fairly-well developed, and they do a fine job of keeping the story moving.
Kids will "eat" this movie up. Between the quirky humor and solid slapstick, the movie will easily keep their attention for the 90-minute runtime.
While this is a completely harmless film for kids, I imagine most adults will just shrug it off. I don't know if I have a reason to see it again.
While my fellow geek might have mixed feelings about movies in 3D, the 3D brings this film up a notch in my rating. I think I would have been more disappointed in the film if had it not been for the 3D.
Without it, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" is just another run-of-the-mill family film.
A fun little film, but may be easily forgettable.
2 and a half buckets.
FILM FREAK'S REVIEW:
Kids will probably love this film.
Bill Hader from "Saturday Night Live" does a fine job of voicing the character of inventor Flint Lockwood. The supporting cast is great as well. Mr. T, Bruce Campbell, Anna Faris and James Caan make the characters fun in this film.
And for the most part, the story is interesting.
As my fellow geek noted, I'm struggling with the use of 3D in so many new releases.
While the technology DOES make the picture look very crisp and more enjoyable, I still ask myself, "Where's the third dimension?"
Half the fun of donning 3D Glasses is waiting for items to fly at you at appropriate, although unexpected, times. I can't recall many, if any, 3D moments in "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," making me feel cheated after paying extra money to see the picture in 3D.
My kids obviously don't seem disappointed with the lack of 3D effects, but as an adult, I was still a little disappointed.
It's a good movie, just not a "Disney-Pixar" knockout. Don't go out of your way.
2 and a half buckets.
