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 Little
by little, the world of American animation is nudging its way over to
being truly fun for the whole family, including the family members that
don’t have children. Whiplash quick and sharp as a tack, the animated
adaptation of the well-loved bedtime story by Judi and Ron Barrett,
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, is a sweet, sugar-hyper blast.
Directed by first-time feature animators, Phil Lord and Chris Miller,
with plenty of affection for the heart if not the gentle style of the
original children’s book, the two young film makers told me they made a
film full of things they liked. What’s not to like about the story of a
misunderstood wannabe scientist who creates a machine that makes
cheeseburgers, pancakes and mountains of ice cream and candy fall from
the sky? Since he was a tiny tot, Flint Lockwood’s great dream was to
see his name written alongside the great scientists he idolises. Now, a
young man in the depressing abandoned fishing village of Swallow Falls,
his dream seems further off than ever. After a hilarious series of
failed inventions, Flint is on the verge of chucking it all in and
joining his father in the family’s fishing tackle shop, but not before
one last try at the old experiment game. Meanwhile, over in a local
television studio a whim of chance gives coffee girl, Sam Sparks, a
crack at the big time. Sam is instantly promoted to cover the
announcement of Swallow Falls’ big attempt to rejuvenate the dilapidated
town and bring back tourists. An unfortunate encounter with Flint’s
latest experiment and both the hopes of renewal for Swallow Falls and
Sam’s dreams of making it in the big time are gone with the wind. Just
when all looks bleak for Flint, Sam and the town, their prayers are
answered by a force from above as cheeseburgers begin slowly falling
from the skies. Once Flint discovers it’s his errant machine in the
atmosphere over Swallow Falls that’s sending down this yummy goodness,
he learns to control the menu of what deliciousness will plummet to
earth at any given moment and the town’s laughing stock becomes the
saviour of Swallow Falls. As is the way of all good things, Flint finds
out that too much of anything, even juicy steaks that land on a waiting
plate in front of you, can be too much when those tasty morsels begin to
enlarge to roughly the size of the cow they came from. Thanks to the
increasing demands and unceasing appetite for both food and finances of
the town’s mayor, Flint’s overtaxed machine fights back by spewing
delicious vittles in deadly sizes and quantities. It isn’t long before
the meatballs of the title come barreling down from the heavens coupled
with a spaghetti tornado and other culinary catastrophes to rain down on
Swallow Falls. Flint, Sam and Flint’s loyal monkey assistant, Steve,
must undertake a dangerous airborne mission into the heart of the
mutated machine to stop the Armageddon of Yumminess from destroying the
world.
The
directors have taken the enchanting idea of a machine that can make any
desired food fall from the sky and run with it. Lord and Miller throw
everything and the Frigidaire into this movie and the result is a
highly-enjoyable, fast-paced, action-packed ride. The script is smart
and holds wit for every age group. The inclusion of pop culture
iconography from the backgrounds of Flint’s lab which includes an old
Simon game as his security lock and Commodore 64 graphics throughout the
command centre, to the genius of casting Mr. T as Earl Devereaux,
vivacious and enthusiastic local enforcer of the law, were inspired
choices. Even Sonny Corleone himself, James Caan, gives a wonderfully
restrained performance as Tim, Flint’s devoted, affection-impaired dad.
The strictly blue-collar Tim’s usual mode of emotionalism is the rare
rising of his overgrown Muppet-like eyebrows and mumbled fishing
analogies. More brilliant voice casting features Bruce Campbell as the
gluttonous town mayor and Neil Patrick Harris as Flint’s devoted pal,
Steve the monkey, who sports a snazzy Royal Tenenbaums-esque headband.
The power of Doogie is such that he even manages to make lines
consisting of one or two yelped syllables hilarious.
The
movie is also unexpectedly gorgeous. The character designs are easy to
dismiss at first, but the rubbery complexions and unabashedly cartoonish
proportions are completely appropriate for the Tex Avery-like whiplash
movements of the wiry Flint. The characters, especially Sam put me in
the mind of CGI versions of Rankin-Bass’ claymation characters, which
according to Lord and Miller was completely intentional. What people
may not see is how carefully rendered the designs are as with Flint (Who
resembles a cartoon version of author and pop icon Neil Gaiman)
and his ridged, defined fingernails and the almost dreadlock-like
texture of his crazy mad-scientist’s mane. While filmed in the 3D
format, Lord and Miller show remarkable restraint considering the entire
point of the movie is that large amounts of delicious objects are
falling to earth. The food all looks good enough to eat; the ice cream
birthday party for Officer Earl’s son is the stuff of dreams, with a
Neapolitan variety piled in drifts deep enough for kids to throw
themselves into and eat their way out of. Flint’s courtship of Sam
inside a giant-sized Jell-O mold is the one of most originally romantic
- and yummy - gestures ever filmed.
The
story is lovely and heartwarming; this band of misfits, Flint, Sam,
Flint’s dad and even the town itself can’t find their place in the
world. For both Flint and Sam, the lesson of staying true to themselves
is delivered intelligently and saccharine-free. Especially gratifying
is Sam’s transformation from the pretty, perfectly coiffed newscaster
bubblehead back to her true self; a four-eyed, ponytail-wearing (Complete
with uncool scrunchie) super-smart geek despite knowing which the
world will better accept. It’s a great cue for little girls and bigger
ones, as well.
So
much fun. Yes, even you folks without the kiddies don’t need to hijack
a niece or nephew or a neighbour’s grade-schooler to have an excuse to
see this one. Rollicking, hilarious and whip-smart, Cloudy With a
Chance of Meatballs is an absolute delight.
~ The
Lady Miz Diva
Sept.
15th, 2008
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