Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Directed by: Phil Lord, Chris Miller Cast: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Neil Patrick Harris, Bruce Campbell Running Time: 1 hr 30 mins Rating: PG Release Date: September 18, 2009

PLOT: An accident prone inventor (Hader) creates a machine that causes food to rain from the sky.

WHO'S IT FOR? This film could appeal to the entire family, as its playful imagination has the potential to warm both kids and their parents. The humor is rarely too cutesy, and even when the film threatens death and destruction - well, it's difficult to be afraid of spaghetti.

EXPECTATIONS: The only feature that most "other" animated films seem to really share with a Pixar movie is a marquee. Because of this trend, one could only expect decent 3D animation, pop culture references, and a story that turns out to be vanilla, no matter how wacky the premise is.

SCORECARD (0-10)

ACTORS:

Bill Hader as Flint Lockwood: The SNL cast member brings his natural goofiness to a role that fits like a glove on his mannerisms. For example, when his loveable accident prone inventor narrates his every serious move, it’s very much Hader. Able to carry a film without having a particularly familiar voice, his rising comedic potential is finally brought to the forefront by this truly animated leading role. Score: 8

Anna Faris as Sam Sparks: The same way that Flint is undeniably Hader, Sam is most certainly the goofball cutie Anna Faris. When watching wannabe reporter Sam Sparks drop food puns like they were hot cakes, the casting makes even more sense when you realize this character is voiced by The House Bunny herself. Score: 7

James Caan as Tim Lockwood: Prepare to laugh at fishing metaphors for the first time, thanks to Caan's super gruff voicing of Tim Lockwood. Appreciated for more than just his enormous mustache, this father character is also the anchor for the film's unique father-son angle. Score: 7

Neil Patrick Harris as Steve: As random as it may seem, only time could tell that someone as surprising as NPH would voice Flint's assistant, Steve. This bouncing-off-the-wall monkey with a translator around his neck and an affinity for one word phrases will certainly earn the love of those who sorely miss UP's talking dog, Dug. Especially my mother. Score: 8

Bruce Campbell as Mayor Shelbourne: In a movie that bows down to the power of food, this crooked politician allows the audience to decide for themselves as to whether this character is exclusively condemning obesity or not. Either way, you won't recognize that it's "A-grade B-actor" Bruce Campbell until the credits. Score: 6

TALKING: This flick really brings home the bacon when it comes to tasty humor. Never losing its chance to make a real cheesy remark, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a feast of food puns. Score: 6

SIGHTS: The animation style of this movie does not aim for reality, but it does a wonderful job in creating a cartoon world that looks more than believable (especially in 3-D). However, the glasses and extra bucks aren't necessary when it comes to enjoying Meatballs. As delicious as the graphics are the many various food items that make appearances in the film. Score: 9

SOUNDS: Mark Mothersbaugh provides a sweet score, but it lacks a motif that one can really hang onto (a style that should really be practiced in more films, I believe). Now that it has been a couple o' decades, I fear this won't be the last time that we'll hear Public Enemy's once raucous "Fight the Power" in a PG-rated animated film. Score: 6

PLOT SPOILERS

BEST SCENE: The moment where food first starts to fall from the sky is particularly special, and a wonderful summary of the film's imagination.

ENDING: All is well, and yes, Lockwood's infamous Ratbirds have the last word.

QUESTIONS: None.

REWATCHABILITY: Hopefully very soon - I am excited just recommending it to my friends.

OVERALL

Dropping into theatres this Friday is another 3-D animated movie, but don’t groan “sub-Pixar” just yet. This isn’t forgettable pop animation or a gosh darn masterpiece, but this surprising, fun film doesn’t aim to be either. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a wholly entertaining movie, one that benefits all ages of laughter made with a large group of funny people who either work up their developed personas (Hader and Faris) or go under complete disguise (Campbell, Harris to name a couple of many). With a few dashes of satire and a complete absence of totally kiddie jokes, the movie's humor is refreshing – it’s one of the first animated family films that really aims for a wacky humor similar to a more inventive, slightly cleaner episode of "The Simpsons." And it succeeds.

A movie with such promise to feed our appetites and imaginations follows through with its visuals, but at the same time the story doesn’t slack. As overplayed as the “sticking to your dreams” theme may be, the film’s choice to view the conflict as a son trying to please his father, (and not a girl), makes the story even more warming. Its only truly stale ingredient is the adventure it forces into the third act – somehow, the movie finds a way to make the most action-packed segment fail in comparison to tasty moments where food is falling from the sky. Like for much of the film, big ol' servings of happiness seem to rain down on both the characters and the audience.

FINAL SCORE: 8/10