Cloudy WIth A Chance Of Meatballs
We’ve all heard of it raining cats and dogs, even if we don’t know what that really means, but raining meatballs? That’s just bizarre!!
Welcome to Swallow Falls, a tiny Atlantic Island whose entire industry revolves around fishing. But Flint Lockwood thinks big. Too big for a small island, some say, but when he invents a machine that can turn water into food we know that life will never quite be the same again.
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs is a real triumph for Sony, who have struggled to really compete with Disney Pixar and Dreamworks in the realm of animated movies for some time. Perhaps it didn’t achieve the success that it deserves, but don’t let that put you off it.
It marries a simple plot, with likeable characters and a good deal of typical childish humour with enough clever stuff to keep adults interested. It has long been a bugbear of mine that children’s movies, and indeed TV shows, have nothing in them but entertainment. That’s all very well, but throw in something for the adults and what you have, as in this case, is something that is not only entertaining but potentially thought provoking and mind expanding. Exactly what children should be watching.
Of course, there is a love story thrown in - the island scientist and geek Flint and the mainland weather girl (and a geek herself) - who combine to save the day after Flint’s machine gets out of control. But the real message of the film is carried within their characters. That you should pursue your dreams, never doubt your abilities, and you will one day do amazing things. And you should never have to change who you are for other people. Just be yourself, and things will work out just fine.
All in all, and excellent film with an excellent message, and worth making a bit of storage space on your shelves for, because you will be watching it over and over!