Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) and Sam Sparks (voiced by Anna Faris) are back in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2”. The first movie featured an overachieving but insecure Flint desperately trying to make an invention that would have the envy of everyone. When his greatest creation works, turning water into food, he is a hero. Soon things get out of hand and food starts raining from the sky. The inhabitants of Swallow Falls (known as the town of Chewandswallow in the 1978 book by Judi and Ron Barrett) are left with an unthinkable mess of giant food.
The opening of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” reminds us that Flint grew up believing that only his mom, who gave him his trusty lab coat, believed in his ability as an inventor. The movie introduces us to a young Flint watching his idol, Chester V, on television. Chester and his Live Corp Company appear in Swallow Falls, right where the first movie ended, to inform Flint and his friends that they must vacate the island so it can be cleaned. Flint, his father and the rest of their friends reluctantly leave, but not before Flint agrees to join Chester V at Live Corp as an inventor. When Flint fails to receive the validation from Chester V that he so desires, he becomes disillusioned. Chester V swoops in with a job only Flint can do: find his machine in Swallow Falls and destroy it. Flint, though he promises Chester he will work alone, gathers a team of familiar characters. Flint, his father Tim, Sam Sparks, Policeman Earl Devereaux, Manny, “baby” Brent and the monkey Steve sail in Tim’s boat back to Swallow Falls.
The group finds an amazing assortment of very “punny” food animals. There are cheeseburger spiders, shrimpanzees, watermelephants and so much more. Chester has deceived Flint by telling him that the foodimals (food + animals) are dangerous and plan to attack the world’s monuments. Flint is pretty gullible. His friends are increasingly skeptical of Chester V and his puppet employees from Live Corp (live spelled backwards is “evil”). Finally, after ignoring his friends, Flint realizes Chester V is a scam artist and thief. All is well that ends well with the bad guy getting what he deserves.
Our children ages 15, 13 and 10 enjoyed the movie and may have even laughed out loud a few times, though they all agreed it is intended for a younger crowd. Six year old viewer, Cailin, however, enthusiastically told me, “It was GREAT!” She and her brother both agreed they enjoyed the film. It is pretty silly and there are an exhausting number of puns used as humor. My favorite is “There’s a leek in the boat!” (No, it’s not a hole taking in water, but a little leek with eyes and a mouth!) It did make me laugh a couple times, though, and that can only be a good thing.
Definitely worth it for younger children and those who loved the craziness of the first movie.
Rated PG with a running time of 95 minutes.
Also featuring the voices of James Caan, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris and Terry Crews.
Directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn.
Check out Village Theatre movie times here and enjoy a sequel that is silly, but entertaining and funny.
Kellee Hearther
Online Editor
eCoronado.com
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