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Movie review: Big servings of fun and adventure in 'Cloudy 2'
Images courtesy of Columbia Pictures
The story picks up roughly eight minutes after the end of the first film, with quirky inventor Flint Lockwood (SNL alumnus Bill Hader), his plucky meteorologist girlfriend Sam Sparks (Anna Faris, “The House Bunny” ) sharing a moment following the destruction of the atrociously-named FLDSMDFR (Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator). As it turns out, the FLDSMDFR’s ability to create large quantities of food from water has attracted the attention of the world’s greatest scientist (and Lockwood’s childhood hero), Chester V (voiced by Will Forte, SNL’s infamous “MacGruber”).
When Chester V – who is presented like a cross between Bill Nye, Steve Jobs and The Simpsons’ Hank Scorpio – offers Lockwood the opportunity of a lifetime, little do Flint and his friends realize that they will soon be embarking on an adventure that makes their first adventure look downright ordinary.
The release of 2009’s “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” represented something of a watershed moment for Sony Pictures Animation, whose output up to that point had either failed to win critics or, worse, charm audiences. The studio’s first release, “Open Season” (2006), was seen to be reminiscent of Disney’s sub-par “The Wild”, which opened earlier that year. Their sophomore effort, “Surf’s Up” (2007), had the misfortune of premiering barely six months after another film about a penguin finding his place in the world (Dreamworks’ “Happy Feet”). Put simply, a lot was riding on “Cloudy” to show what the studio could really do.
The food-animal hybrids are both amazing and hunger-inducing.
Based on the book of the same name, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” may have been made for kids, but there was enough sly humor, fun slapstick and amazing visuals to tickle the entertain even the most cynical adults, resulting in one of 2009’s biggest animated hits. Despite a change of directors for the sequel, the first film’s inherent charms are here, mostly intact, making for a movie that complements the original while setting the stage for a bigger adventure.
Quirky characters notwithstanding, the main attraction here – as in the first “Cloudy” – is the gorgeous rendering of the food Flint and his friends encounter. Of course, as the trailers have shown, as opposed to the awesomely scaled culinary treats our heroes were running around on, under and in back then, here, it is the food doing the running.
The good-natured jabs at corporate culture that make up the first third of the film are quickly shelved once our heroes return to their home town of Swallow Falls, to discover it has become overrun with food/animal hybrids. It is here that “Cloudy 2” really kicks into high gear, with the gags, puns and adventure coming thick and fast. Marvel at the magnificently imagined herds of buffaloafs, tree-dwelling shrimpanzees, and don’t be surprised if they make you hungry. Even the terrifying cheesespider – with its French fry legs and sesame seed eyes – manages to look delicious!
Quirky characters notwithstanding, the main attraction here – as in the first “Cloudy” – is the gorgeous rendering of the food Flint and his friends encounter. Of course, as the trailers have shown, as opposed to the awesomely scaled culinary treats our heroes were running around on, under and in back then, here, it is the food doing the running.
The good-natured jabs at corporate culture that make up the first third of the film are quickly shelved once our heroes return to their home town of Swallow Falls, to discover it has become overrun with food/animal hybrids. It is here that “Cloudy 2” really kicks into high gear, with the gags, puns and adventure coming thick and fast. Marvel at the magnificently imagined herds of buffaloafs, tree-dwelling shrimpanzees, and don’t be surprised if they make you hungry. Even the terrifying cheesespider – with its French fry legs and sesame seed eyes – manages to look delicious!
The gang's all here!
While the steps that the story takes into the realms of friendship, family and loyalty are pretty much standard-issue in animated films these days, it is the means by which directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn (Story Artist and Head of Story on the first film, respectively) choose to present those concepts that “Cloudy 2” works. A well-honed sense of humor and sentiment balances what would otherwise be stereotypical material, as when the inevitable walkout on the now-career minded Flint takes place in a pancake syrup marsh.
All told, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” does a great job with established characters and inspired visuals, powered by an irreverent sense of humor that doesn’t rely on soon-to-be-outdated pop culture references (“Shrek”) or serve as a 90-minute toy commercial (“Cars 2”). Given the good will and energy “Cloudy 2” is sure to generate, this writer hopes that Sony takes care of this franchise, lest it devolve into a series of increasingly disappointing retreads (Fox’s “Ice Age”, anyone?).
While no one will blame you if you suddenly decide to visit a buffet after watching Flint Lockwood and friends’ latest adventure, this writer’s dilemma was trying to figure out where in the world he could get a pet marshmallow.
Or maybe a strawberry, perhaps? — BM, GMA News
"Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2" is now showing in cinemas.
Mikhail Lecaros is a professional magazine editor and freelance writer. The views expressed in this article are solely his own.
All told, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” does a great job with established characters and inspired visuals, powered by an irreverent sense of humor that doesn’t rely on soon-to-be-outdated pop culture references (“Shrek”) or serve as a 90-minute toy commercial (“Cars 2”). Given the good will and energy “Cloudy 2” is sure to generate, this writer hopes that Sony takes care of this franchise, lest it devolve into a series of increasingly disappointing retreads (Fox’s “Ice Age”, anyone?).
While no one will blame you if you suddenly decide to visit a buffet after watching Flint Lockwood and friends’ latest adventure, this writer’s dilemma was trying to figure out where in the world he could get a pet marshmallow.
Or maybe a strawberry, perhaps? — BM, GMA News
"Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2" is now showing in cinemas.
Mikhail Lecaros is a professional magazine editor and freelance writer. The views expressed in this article are solely his own.
