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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
| Released |
25 October 2013 |
| Director(s) |
Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn |
Starring
|
Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Will Forte, Kristen Schaal, Terry Crews, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Benjamin Bratt |
Writer(s)
|
John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, Erica Rivinoja |
| Producer(s) |
Kirk Bodyfelt |
| Origin |
United States |
| Running Time |
94 minutes |
| Genre |
Animation, family, comedy |
| Rating |
G |
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Going back for seconds.
One of the oddest and most original animated films of the past few years has just spawned a sequel and thankfully, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is as riotously silly as its predecessor.
Starting just moments after the denouement of the first film (and with a handy catch up montage for those late to the party), Cloudy 2 reunites us with young inventor Flint and the other citizens of Swallow Falls as they survey the extensive food damage that has befallen their town. In the midst of the confusion, members of the scientific organisation Live Corp appear, led by Flint’s childhood hero Chester V. Chester promises an immediate evacuation, a clean up operation for the town and a dream job for Flint back at Live Corp’s headquarters. But is Chester as philanthropic as he would appear...? Soon, Flint and his friends are back on Swallow Falls in search of his malfunctioning food machine which has now begun to produce sentient beings.
The stage is thus set for a bowlful of food-based surrealism. The character design and animation are vibrant, original and endlessly entertaining, particularly when the pun-tastic food creatures are introduced into the mix and the extended parody of Jurassic Park kicks in - spring onion giraffes take the place of the brachiosaurus and a large angry taco makes the roaring entrance of a tyrannosaurus rex. It’s a neat idea that sits well within a script (from Erica Rivinoja, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley), that balances the obligatory life lessons with all out silliness.
If you’re a fan of a good pun (and who isn’t?), you’ll definitely find something to giggle about here. Sure the story may meander a little but the screen positively glows with bizarre visuals and quirky characters who are brought to life by the spirited voice cast. Directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn do a fantastic job of making a satisfying meal out of the first film’s leftovers.
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Linda O’Brien |
