‘Chance of Meatballs’ served in perfect portions


By Julie Brown-Micko


Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s playful romp Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (based on the popular children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett) gives new meaning to eating “fresh and local.” If it rained cheeseburgers, who wouldn’t eagerly become a “locovore?” But wish fulfillment has unforeseen dangers, including, in this case, an F5 sized spaghetti twister spitting out meatballs the size of Volkswagens.

It all starts with sweet, science-geek Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader), whose inventions never quite work exactly as planned. Since childhood, he’s longed for acceptance, success, and the approval of his laconic father, Tim (James Caan). His hometown, Swallow Falls, has fallen on hard times since the world has acknowledged that their main export—sardines—are “super gross.” The crafty mayor (Bruce Campbell) has plans to revitalize the town and make a big name for himself. Flint, too, wants to become a hometown hero by inventing a machine that turns water into food, saving the populace from endless variations of sardine cuisine. The mayor, Flint, and perky weathergirl Sam Sparks (Anna Faris) are on a crash course (literally) that will change the forecast and waistlines of Swallow Falls forever. When it starts raining food, everyone is ecstatic, until Flint’s creation goes wonky and egos are super sized.

This light, frothy film works because it sticks to a simple story and provides healthy doses of humor, fantasy, action, and visual effects. Flint is an appealing everyman: earnest, brilliant and kind. He often fails, but his mother assures him, “the world needs your originality, Flint. You just have to grow into it.” Sam Sparks, the aptly named weathergirl, is just as ambitious as Flint and makes a goofy, energetic love interest.

But the real sweet spot of this film are the delightfully ridiculous secondary characters. The outrageously hammy mayor grows into a villain of hysterical proportions. Mr. T voices the over-the-top cop Earl Devereaux who has some of the best lines in the movie such as, “My chest hair is tingling—something’s wrong!” and “This contact lens represents you! And my eye represents my eye! I’ve got my eye on you!” Then there’s the bloated adult “Baby Brent,” who was the Sardine Industry’s mascot in sunnier times, but has become a spoiled bully who cackles to Flint, “What a nerd! You’re trying to be smart and that’s lame!”

And, then there’s the food. Great, pouring piles that induce food comas and sugar highs unlike anything previously imagined. Clever visual effects include an ice cream snowstorm, pizza slices like giant shurikens, and a grotesquely overgrown meatball at the center of a monster storm. Adults will also catch some funny references to other famous films in the disaster and space opera genres.

All in all, the portion size of silliness and adventure is just right in this animated fantasy. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs provides the recommended daily allowance of fun for children and adults.