CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

US, 2009, 90 minutes, Colour.
Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Sandberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr T., Bobb’e J. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris.
Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

An animated 3D version of a popular children's book from the 1970s by Judi Barrett.

The characters and their environment are more stylised than realistic, differing from the usual animated films. The 3D effects work quite well.

This is the story of would-be inventor, Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader), who lives in a town that has depended on its sardine industry but has now fallen on hard times. Flint is a genial but gawky hero whose inventions (when he was a boy) include paint-on shoes, which you can't get off, and rat-birds! His best friend is Steve the Monkey.

As an adult, Flint is urged to work with his father (voiced by James Caan), who doesn't understand and can explain himself only by fishing metaphors which Flint can't get. But, he continues in his laboratory and finds success with a machine that can turn water into food – hence the weather forecasts for meatballs (but there are pancakes and spaghetti on the menu falling from the skies).

Flint becomes the town's hero. The mayor wants to exploit the situation. The media are interested, especially a young reporter, Sam Sparks (voiced by Anna Faris), who gets a crush on Flint. Other characters include the local policeman, Earl Devereaux, and his son Cal who gets into danger, as well as 'Baby Brent', the child who was the face of advertising for the sardines but is now a spoilt former celebrity

Needless to say, matters get out of hand, with deluges of food, and Flint has to find a way to set things right.

Children will probably enjoy the unusual story and Flint's eccentric ways. Adults will be amused by the characters and situations.

1.The popularity of the original book? Adaptation for the screen? Characters, events, fantasy? 3D?

2.The animation style, the drawing of the characters, the town, the food and the showers? The exaggerated style for comedy? The musical score?

3.The title, Flint and his inventions? The food? Transforming the town? Forecasts, the parody on the weather? The showers of food?

4.The town, dreary, relying on the sardine industry? The town going downhill? The inhabitants? The mayor? The need for some kind of transformation?

5.The introduction to Flint, his voice, appearance? As a boy? Inventions? His inventor’s coat? His mother’s support? His father not understanding? The range of experiments and their disaster – the TV and its moving, the rat birds…?

6.Flint grown up, his being looked down on by the others in the town? By Baby Brent? His wanting to do something different? The plan for the food transformation? His machines? Laboratory? Going into action?

7.Sam, her background, nerdish, spectacles, transformation for the television? On air? The television anchor and his comments on her appearance? Going to the town, covering the events? Meeting Flint, attracted to him? Their talking, sharing stories? Falling in love? Her final support of him – bringing her old machine in order to track the clouds? The happy ending with Sam?

8.Baby Brent, the advertisements, his growing up, vanity? His intrusion at the celebrations? His going on the shuttle? His helping out with the difficulties – and becoming a hero?

9.The mayor, his ambitions? Appearance? Promises to Flint? The showers of food, his inordinate eating, growing larger and larger? His opening of the ceremonies? His wanting to escape, the boat, capsizing?

10.Earl, the policeman, his son? The confrontations with Flint? His change of heart? Expressing his love for his son? His son in difficulties with the food, rescuing him?

11.Tim, the silent father, his appearance? Not understanding his son? Continuing in the shop, wanting Flint to help him? Flint and his hard sayings against his father? His quietly and patiently working in the shop? His pride in his son? While not understanding him? His final contribution, the computers, sending the email?

12.The visual aspects of the food? The transformation of the clouds? The food falling from the sky? The machine to collect the waste and deposit it? The deposit actually collapsing and overwhelming the town? The variety of foods, people putting in their orders? The birthday party for Cal? The children enjoying it? The mayor, his not having any limits, putting in the order, the machine breaking up?

13.A fantasy? For children – jokes about food, slapstick? The nerdish inventor? Finding true love? The parody of human behaviour as entertainment for adults?