Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 2009

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 2009, animated
Directors: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Cast (voices): Bill Hader, Anna Farris, James Caan



Meatballs in short:The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.

Stage: Home theatre, sunday morning entertainment


Preps: This piece of action is currently running in our local cinema, with a lot of success with the kids. I was curious what the fuss was all about and I am generally a fan of cartoons or animated movies.


Reality: Meatballs plays with child's fantasies - in sense that everyone would love to see their favourite food raining from the sky. However, the adult version is that the food must come on a plate, in its predicted shape, otherwise it's no good.

The animated action kindly reminds us of the importance of being good to your parents and the unrevealed truth that they mock us just to inspire us and that you are supposed to know they love you no matter what the shape of that love (read: things they say to you) is. I don't really buy that, however, for this animation it's good enough. As good as the idea of having a cheesburger running into your hands, falling from the sky - untouched (and we know how solid a hamburger is if you throw it somewhere). I was a bit surprised that all the food that is coming from the sky, is typical american junk food. We are in times when healthy food is marketed and you see reminders of "home grown veggies", "cerealed bread with dark wheat", "yogurt-like sweet stuff", "fruit instead of desert", anyhow, in this cartoon I get a feeling that we all long for marshmallows, hot dogs, cakes and candies, ice cream..

Typically american, I claim again. However, your kids will enjoy it, I am pretty sure, just be prepared to take them into the nearest McDonald's afterwards (maybe they sponsored the movie anyway, so it seems). And what's wrong with sardines? I don't get this part. The cartoon is an anti-sardine campaign. Still, much healthier than cheeseburger. But I don't suppose that was the point of the directors. Living up your dream, even if the dream might kill people or lead to the disaster and then repaying in a Bruce Willis (Armageddon) style, that was the idea, I guess.

My personal rate: 6,0 (as said, Armageddon of donuts and cheesburgers, tornado of spaghetti (the meatballs derive from the spaghetti), and a romance between a weird local scientist and a weather girl.. well, it might amuse you.)

Meatballs on IMDB
Check out the cool official site - truly a storm of food. Also, a food selector, to make it rain the food of your choice (I believe in my case it would be cheese and olives)