"Get some nuts, Flint Lockwood!!"
I’ve been getting a little bit behind with my movie reviews lately, so it’s time to, ‘ketchup’ a bit. You see, on the menu the other day was Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, in delicious 3D.
The short and sweet review would simply be: it’s great. A slightly meatier review on the other hand would probably consist of three courses…
The starter (the plot):
Flint Lockwood lives in a small town called “Swallow Falls”, famed for it’s sardine industry. He wants to be an inventor. Not just any inventor though. Ever since he was a child, Flint has dreamt of changing the world with his creations, and making it a better place to live. The trouble is, his wacky inventions all turn out to be a bit rubbish.
Until that is, Flint invents a fantastic new machine with the potential to turn water into food.
Unfortunately though, he lacks sufficient amounts of electricity to get the machine running properly. With another failed invention seemingly about to clutter his lab, and with his dad wanting him to start working at the family sardine shop instead, Flint realises he needs to do something to remedy the situation. So with most of the town population distracted during the grand opening of “Sardine Land” (an initiative to attract tourists), Flint grabs his opportunity and plugs his machine into the town electricity supply…
Well, you can pretty much guess what happens story-wise, so lets clear that plate away and we’ll get on with the next course.
The main course (was it any good?):
As you’ll have probably guessed by now, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a surreal cuisine-based disaster movie – kinda like a cross between Independence Day, Twister, Armageddon and some Heston Blumenthal cookbook. It perhaps became a touch too surreal towards the end for my liking, but it was still both creative and funny regardless of that. There’s a moral message there too about excess and obesity, but eh, who cares about that.
Sure, like most animated films these days, it’s really for the kids. But there are plenty of jokes for the adults too. Plus it’s got Mr T doing the voice of local policeman Earl Deveraux, and let’s face it, every film should have Mr T in. “Get some nuts!”
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Dessert (the summary):
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is certainly the most colourful film I’ve seen in a long while. It’s pretty impressive visually, and while it perhaps lacks some of the story telling depth that a Pixar film might have, it’s still very enjoyable. I’d happily digest a second helping if they served it up.
Om nom nom nom.
8/10.