Where Pixar would have made a nutritious main course out of the character issues in Lord and Miller's script, "Meatballs" skips them in favor of dessert.
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10/02/09
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (2009)
86
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:122
Fresh:105
Rotten:17
Average Rating:7.3/10
Consensus: Quirky humor, plucky characters and solid slapstick make this family comedy a frenetically tasty time at the movies.
Rated: U [See Full Rating]
Genre: Childrens
Theatrical Release:18-09-2009
Synopsis: Inspired by Ron and Judi Barrett's beloved children's book of the same name, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS follows inventor Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader) and brainy weathergirl Sam... [More]
Starring: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Bruce Campbell
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Reviews for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
This film is uneven, but it has enough effective humor, good characters and nice 3D animation to make an entertaining movie.
10/01/09
When I dismiss many children's movies as being insipid and low-brow, I mean they actually insult their young audiences. Not this one.
09/26/09
funny and at times wonderfully weird, and even has a few meaningful things to say
09/25/09
...parents are advised to flip a coin, with the loser having to take the youngsters to go see it
09/24/09
... enjoyable kid stuff ...
09/24/09
Silly and surprisingly funny, Meatballs is light on its feet and quick-witted, with a bonus self-awareness that most family flicks confuse with irony.
09/23/09
I'm a sucker for a good kids' flick and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs really delivers the goods.
09/22/09
A fun film but not a funny one. It needed more big laughs to keep the children entertained.
09/21/09
Determined to have their cake and eat it too, writer-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller first invite us to revel in ice cream mountains and nacho cheese fountains, then clobber us with ham-handed nutritional moralism.
09/21/09
Could be interpreted as a commentary on the potential perils of genetically engineered 'Frankenfood,' but this unpretentious movie doesn't sweat the message.
09/21/09
When in movie history has the girl ever revealed her true self and become more attractive to the hero by putting on spectacles and pulling back her hair?
09/21/09
The fantastic journey stems from the kids' housebound daydreaming - dinner time is inescapable, after all.
09/20/09
Dine on the 3-D if you can. Unlike most three-dimensional productions, the 3-D here enhances the story and the excellent animation but doesn't overwhelm them.
09/20/09
An amusing kidflick that entertains while serving up enlightening food-for-thought.
09/20/09
Wonderfully inspired - will probably be anathema only to vegetarians.
09/19/09
One of those equal-opportunity exercises that provides as much merriment for adults as for kids.
09/19/09
It's not only a super cute adventure, perfectly appropriate for kids of all ages, but the vocal talent is a bountiful buffet, to say the least.
09/19/09
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a thoroughly delightful and hilarious 3-D animated comedy that'll definitely get you craving giant pancakes, gummi bears and yes, said meat.
09/18/09
It's unlike any animated feature you're going to see this year or any other. It's way out there in terms of concept and story, but in a good way.
09/18/09
Latest News for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
November 24, 2009:
Total Recall: Children's Book Adaptations
As anyone who bore witness to The Cat in the Hat can testify, children's book adaptations can be, putting it mildly, quite hit or miss. But sometimes, with the right mix of... More...
September 27, 2009:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Audiences Still Hungry For Meatballs
Turning into the sleeper hit of the fall, Sony's blockbuster 3D toon Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs easily ruled the North American box office posting the second smallest... More...
September 20, 2009:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: It's Sunny Skies for Cloudy
Moviegoers chose 3D fun over Hollywood stars as the animated comedy Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs powered ahead of expectations to debut at number one grossing more than the... More...
September 17, 2009:
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This week at the movies, we've got a possessed student body (Jennifer's Body, starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried); an oddball snitch (The Informant!, starring Matt Damon and... More...
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