Following the book review I wrote, I decided that after I watched the film Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, I’d share my opinion on it.

James was the one who referred me to the trailer on YouTube and following that, we decided to see it.

I can’t really say much on the trailer, but it gave me the impression that it was a fun film. It takes a lot for me to like a film, regardless of the genre, length, actors, and so on. I don’t see very many as it is.

The film is based on the book by Judi and Ron Barrett. I have not read the book, so perhaps this review will be a little less biased (I tend to like books better than films sometimes).

The main character, Flint Lockwood, is a young inventor. Since he was little, he dreamed of being an inventor and being up there with Einstein and other significant figures mentioned in my high school physics textbook who I have since forgotten.

One of his inventions is a pair of spray-on shoes that never come off. They are introduced at the beginning of the film and are significant towards the end. If you recall thinking, “I remember that from earlier!” in any film you have watched, this one has quite a few of those moments.

Flint lives in Swallow Falls. The population of Swallow Falls is forced to eat all their exports of sardines after the rest of the world called them “super gross”. There are sardines everywhere and the crazy mayor is creating Sardine Land to attract the visitors to Swallow Falls.

Flint’s father has never approved of his crazy inventions and way of life. He wants him to get a proper job, and tells him that he will working with him in the fishing tackle shop.

But Flint is determined to solve this problem with the sardines and be a hero. He invents a machine that can turn water molecules into food. When he realises his machine needs a lot of power in order to work, is where things start going wrong.

Amongst all this, Sam Sparks is sent to Swallow Falls for her big break to become a weather girl and she becomes caught in the mishaps of Flint’s spectacular machine.

What I like about this film personally, is that rather than formulating a huge introduction to all the characters and setting the scene for the first half of the film without any action happening (which is, let’s face it, what a lot of films are like), the complications of the plot are revealed at the very beginning in little tidbits.

Additionally, each character’s personality is developed as the film progresses, rather than seething a droned first half. The film itself is short at around one and a half hours, but is, well, I suppose you could say ‘action packed’.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is an amusing film and one which is put together most intelligently. The plot keeps you hanging on (hmm, no toilet breaks in this one, not that you’d need to anyway, considering its length). It might seem like “just another animated film” but this is one of the ones that stand out, as A Bug’s Life did over a decade ago. Animated films are not unusual, but as for Meatballs, it appeals to everyone.

Children will probably be playing with their food and making mashed potato lands after viewing this, not to mention, if you played with your food when you were a kid, you’ll love this.

I’d assume for older people it would make you a little sick to the stomach, the entire film practically about food – ice cream snow, spaghetti tornadoes, just to mention a few. I found myself hungry after watching but not feeling like eating at all during it. Save the popcorn this time.

This film would really be enjoyed by most people. There’s something in it for everyone, and something that will pull at your emotions. A lot of the film relies on suspense to pull through the plot. It’s wonderfully humourous and parts of it (hmm, let’s just say the ending) will tug at your heartstrings.

The characters are beautiful and you’re bound to love some, hate some, and fight for some all the way. Small complications work their way to a climax and an all-happy resolution, as opposed to many films which seem to follow a drab introduction, fire their way through a too-fast series of complications and leave you hanging at the end. You won’t be disappointed or confused at all – this is just one of those happy, feel-good films.

All the food in this film looks amazing. I didn’t get the chance to see it in 3D, but I’d recommend it, since it looks great in 2D.

That’s all I really have to say. It’s a great film, worth your money to watch, especially if you’re after something enjoyable after which you would smile and nod and appreciate your food a little more, maybe.