Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Inspired by the popular 1978 children's book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett, this 3-D animated film is a delectable cautionary tale about gluttony, obesity, and genetically altered edibles. With the collapse of the sardine market, the tiny island fishing town of Swallow Falls has fallen on hard times. But nerdy teenage inventor Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader of Saturday Night Live) comes up with a clever contraption—the Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator—that turns water vapor into food. Although his first attempts subject him to ridicule and disdain, soon everything imaginable comes drizzling down from the sky in a savory smorgasbord. As Flint's fame grows, so do the appetites of the townspeople, led by the opportunistic Mayor Shelbourne (voiced by Bruce Campbell), whose waistline is continually expanding. Renamed Chew and Swallow, the town becomes an Atlantic cruise ship destination, as tourists flock in to sled on mounds of ice cream and jump on Jell-O molds. Inevitably, Flint's machine goes awry, and he's called on to cope with impending catastrophe. In the meantime, he's able to repair his relationship with his technophobic father (James Caan), befriend a frenzied cop (Mr. T), confront a bully (Andy Samberg), and ignite a romance with a savvy TV meteorologist (Anna Faris). First-time directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (whose collaboration on the TV sitcom How I Met Your Mother perhaps explains why Neil Patrick Harris voices Flint's pet monkey) stretch the thin narrative in this entertaining and eye-popping film with visual puns and weather-disaster gags, while also serving up some food for thought. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (by filmmakers Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, and actor Bill Hader), the production featurettes “Key Ingredients: The Voices” (13 min.) and “A Recipe for Success” (11 min.), “Progression Reels” with introductions by visual effects supervisor Rob Bredow (8 min.), early development scenes (6 min.), extended scenes (3 min.), the music video for “Raining Sunshine” by Miranda Cosgrove (along with a “making-of” and interactive sing-a-long), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is an interactive “Splat” button which allows viewers to throw food at the screen during the movie, a “Flint's Food Fight Game,” and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package, with the Blu-ray/DVD combo adding extra value.] (S. Granger)