Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (film)

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs theataposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Phil Lord
Chris Miller
Produced by Pam Marsden
Written by Phil Lord
Chris Miller
Based on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 
by Judi and Ron Barrett
Starring Bill Hader
Anna Faris
Neil Patrick Harris
James Caan
Bruce Campbell
Andy Samberg
Mr. T
Bobb'e J. Thompson
Benjamin Bratt
Al Roker
Lauren Graham
Will Forte
Music by Mark Mothersbaugh
Editing by Robert Fisher Jr.
Studio Sony Pictures Animation
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s)
  • September 18, 2009 (2009-09-18)
Running time 90 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $100 million[1]
Box office $243,006,126[1]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a 2009 American computer-animated family comedy film produced by Sony Pictures Animation, distributed by Columbia Pictures, and released on September 18, 2009. The film is loosely based on the children's book of the same name by Judi and Ron Barrett.

The film features the voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, Bruce Campbell, James Caan, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Andy Samberg, Mr. T, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham and Will Forte. It was written and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who both are best known for the animated TV series Clone High, which starred Forte.

The film received very positive reviews, and was a modest box office success, earning $243 million worldwide.[1] A sequel, titled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, is scheduled to be released on September 27, 2013.

Contents

Plot [edit]

Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) has always wanted to construct something spectacular; however, his devices have repeatedly failed. Among his failed inventions are Spray on shoes, remote controlled television, rat birds, hair unbalder and the flying car. He lives in Swallow Falls with his technophobic father Tim (James Caan) who misunderstands his son's talent. The Baby Brent Sardine cannery within their town had closed down, leaving the town to feed only on sardines for nourishment.

Flint, along with the aid of his pet monkey, Steve (Neil Patrick Harris), invents a mechanism that mutates water into food, called the "Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator" the FLDSMDFR for short. The mechanism absorbs masses of megawatts of electricity from the nearby power plant and ends up rocketing through town and shooting up into the stratosphere, destroying Sardine Land. While recuperating from his failure, he meets Samantha "Sam" Sparks (Anna Faris), a weather intern whose big break was foiled by Flint's actions. The two witness clouds floating over the town that rain cheeseburgers, much to everyone's astonishment and happiness.

Realizing his accomplishment and potential, Flint invents a communication device to send orders to the FLDSMDFR to order certain types of food. Swallow Falls (now renamed Chewandswallow) is now attracting tourists. Everyone is going well until Tim fails to show appreciation for his son including the fact that the people (including the Mayor) start greedily requesting food for Flint to rain. Flint notices that the food is beginning to rain in massive quantities, but the Mayor (now morbidly obese) sees it as a better outcome for him and the city.

Citizens and worldly tourists in Chewandswallow are blissful until suddenly a large destructive tornado formed of spaghetti and meatballs threatens the town. Flint rushes to the lab to turn the FLDSMDFR off and attempts to send a 'kill code' to stop the machine. However, the Mayor accidentally destroys the communication device while trying to stop Flint from turning off the machine. A massive food storm threatens the world and Flint loses hope. However, his father encourages him to fix the mess. Flint gains self-confidence and places the kill code in a USB flash drive and invents the Flying Car 2. Flint, Sam, her cameraman, Manny (Benjamin Bratt), Steve and Brent (Andy Samberg) set out to terminate the FLDSMDFR. Entering the stratosphere, they find that the machine is the sole core of a giant meatball and sends sentient food to attack them. In the chaos, Flint loses the kill code when the flash drive flies out of the Flying Car 2.

Meanwhile in Chewandswallow, the citizens and tourists, with the help of Earl (Mr. T), escape. Mt. Leftovers collapses, causing an avalanche of food — a foodalanche — to destroy Chewandswallow. The foodalanche covers Flint's Lab with Tim still trying to send Flint the kill code. However, he survives and he successfully clicks send. Flint encounters the machine and jams the phone into the USB port. However, Tim had sent him the wrong document, but Flint destroys the machine by using his Spray-On formula and it explodes. They return safely to the aftermath of Chewandswallow. Tim finally shows his appreciation for his son and his inventions and then Flint and Sam celebrate with a kiss.

Meanwhile, the obese mayor gets stranded in the middle of the sea, having eaten nearly all of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich boat.

Cast [edit]

Production [edit]

On May 9, 2003, a year after establishment, Sony Pictures Animation announced its first animated slate, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, a film adaptation of the book. The Brizzi brothers were brought to direct the film, with Wayne Rice adapting the screenplay.[2] In 2006, it was reported that the film had been helmed by new directors and writers, Phil Lord and Chris Miller.[3]

On September 18, 2008, Variety announced that Bill Hader and Anna Faris had signed on to voice the two lead characters, with James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Al Roker, Lauren Graham and Will Forte also in the voice cast.[4]

Co-writers and co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller said later that year that it would be a homage to, and a parody of, disaster films such as Twister, Armageddon, The Core, and The Day After Tomorrow.[5]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is the second film (after Monster House) made using animation rendering software, Arnold,[6] and the open source image toolkit OpenImageIO.[7]

Music [edit]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Soundtrack album by Mark Mothersbaugh
Released September 15, 2009
Recorded 2009
Genre Film score
Film soundtrack
Length 65:16
Label Sony Pictures Entertainment
Producer Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh chronology
Fanboys
(2009)		 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
(2009)		 Ramona and Beezus
(2010)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a soundtrack to the film of the same name, released under Sony Pictures Entertainment on September 15, 2009. The music of the film and this album are both credited to be composed and produced by American composer Mark Mothersbaugh.

Track listing [edit]

All music composed by Mark Mothersbaugh.

No. Title Performer Length
1. "Raining Sunshine"   Miranda Cosgrove 3:44
2. "Swallow Falls"     0:47
3. "Introducing Flint"     4:16
4. "The Latest Invention"     1:23
5. "The Mayor/Earl Warns Flint"     1:17
6. "Sam's Big Break"     0:50
7. "Powering Up"     1:05
8. "Failure Again"     1:54
9. "Meatier Shower"     3:10
10. "A Father's Love"     1:19
11. "Ice Cream Wonderland"     1:22
12. "Snowball!"     1:15
13. "The Mayor's Big Plan"     1:16
14. "Activation and the Jell-O Dome"     1:39
15. "Sam and Flint Bond"     2:00
16. "Doubting Dad/Mutations"     2:57
17. "The Spaghetti Twister"     3:08
18. "Aftermath"     2:26
19. "Flint's Determination"     2:44
20. "The Food Storm"     2:08
21. "The Mission Begins"     2:36
22. "Outside the Meatball"     1:57
23. "Inside the Meatball"     1:39
24. "Earl Takes Charge"     2:00
25. "Sentient Chickens"     2:42
26. "Worldwide Chaos"     0:57
27. "Anaphylactic Love"     1:41
28. "Attack of the Gummi Bears"     1:40
29. "Here's the Cheese"     1:25
30. "The Heart of the Meatball"     1:17
31. "Spray-On Triumph"     1:55
32. "Flint Returns"     3:31
33. "Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows"   Lesley Gore 1:37
Total length:
 65:16

Release [edit]

Home media [edit]

The film was released on DVD, Blu-ray and PSP UMD on January 5, 2010 in the United States and Canada.[8][9] A 3D Blu-ray was released on June 22, 2010. It was the first 3D Blu-ray sold individually in the United States.[10]

Art book [edit]

In August 2009, Insight Editions published a companion book to the film called The Art and Making of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.[11][12]

Reception [edit]

Critical response [edit]

The film has received very positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 86% of critics gave positive reviews based on 136 reviews with an average rating of 7.3/10. The consensus statement reads, "Quirky humor, plucky characters and solid slapstick make this family comedy a frenetically tasty time at the movies."[13] Another review aggretator, Metacritic, which normalizes a rating from mainstream critics, gave the film an approval rating of 66 based on 24 reviews.[14]

Ernest Hardy of LA Weekly stated the film "is smart, insightful on a host of relationship dynamics, and filled with fast-paced action." Hardy also applauded the 3-D effects which "are wonderful, full of witty sight gags that play out both center-screen and on the periphery."[15] Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave the film a mixed review stating that "Crazy doesn't always equal funny, and the gigantism of this 3-D offering's second half puts a damper on your enjoyment. But look: This film wasn't made for you, or me. It was made for dangerously, easily distracted 9-year-olds."[16] Kyle Smith of the New York Post gave the film two stars stating that the animated film "greatly expands on the kids' book on which it's based in a clever and engaging first half. But the second half leaves a foul aftertaste."[17]

Animator John Kricfalusi, known for his generally negative opinions on modern animation, did a review of the movie on his blog, saying that "[The movie] was an optimistic portent of what could be. It's basically an undirected film - but one that allowed many of the artists to take nothing scenes and add some kind of cleverness, design and action to the formulaic events being told by the story."[18]

Box office [edit]

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was a box office success, earning a total of $243 million on a reported budget of $100 million. 51% of the gross or $124,870,275 came from the domestic market, while the rest, $118,135,851, from other territories.[1]

The film earned $8,137,358 on its opening Friday, and ranked #1 at the box office with a total of $30.3 million for the first weekend.[19] On its second weekend, it remained at #1 with a decrease of only 17%.[20] It currently holds the record for third largest-opening weekend in the month of September.[1]

Accolades [edit]

Group Category Recipient Result
Annie Awards[21] Animated Effects Tom Kluyskens Nominated
Best Animated Feature Nominated
Directing in a Feature Production Phil Lord and Chris Miller Nominated
Writing in a Feature Production Phil Lord and Chris Miller Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards[22] Best Animated Feature Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[23] Best Animated Feature Film Nominated
Satellite Awards[24] Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature Nominated
Visual Effects Society Awards[25] Outstanding Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Nominated
Outstanding Effects Animation in an Animated Feature Motion Picture Nominated

Sequel [edit]

Main article: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

A sequel, titled Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, is in production for a September 27, 2013 release. It is being directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, and will be based on an original idea, where Flint and his friends must save the world from the food machine, this time producing living food beasts.[26] Most of the main cast will reprise their roles, with Terry Crews replacing Mr. T. New cast also includes Kristen Schaal as orangutan Barb, and Will Forte in his new role of Chester V.[27]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved December 20, 2010. 
  2. ^ Ball, Ryan (May 9, 2003). "Sony Taps Six to Direct Animates Slate". Animation Magazine. Retrieved September 28, 2012. 
  3. ^ Nguyen, Hanh (August 16, 2006). "Sony Forecasts 'Chance of Meatballs'". Zap2it. Retrieved July 31, 2011. 
  4. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (September 18, 2008). "Hader, Faris spice up 'Meatballs". Variety. Retrieved July 31, 2011. 
  5. ^ Sloan, Sam (August 16, 2006). "It’s Raining.........Food?". Slice of SciFi. Retrieved November 25, 2010. 
  6. ^ Bharwani, Asim (July 2009). "Sneak Peek: 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'". MovingPicturesMagazine.com. Retrieved July 23, 2009. 
  7. ^ Gritz, Larry (September 18, 2009). "Oiio-dev mailing list: 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs...'". OpenImageIO.org. Retrieved September 18, 2009. 
  8. ^ Nemiroff, Perri (November 27, 2009). "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs Pours Onto DVD In January". Cinema Blend. Retrieved May 1, 2012. 
  9. ^ McCutcheon, David (November 9, 2009). "Meatballs Cloud Up Home". IGN. Retrieved October 17, 2012. 
  10. ^ Calonge, Juan (June 10, 2010). "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3D Blu-ray Announced". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved March 23, 2012. 
  11. ^ Silver, Curtis (October 21, 2009). "Get Visual With the Art of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs". Wired. Retrieved August 25, 2012. 
  12. ^ "The Art and Making of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Hardcover)". Amazon.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012. 
  13. ^ "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixter. Retrieved September 4, 2012. 
  14. ^ "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 19, 2009. 
  15. ^ Hardy, Ernest (September 16, 2009). "Movie Reviews: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Jennifer's Body, Love Happens". LA Weekly. Retrieved September 28, 2012. 
  16. ^ Phillips, Michael (September 17, 2009). "'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' -- 2 1/2 stars". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2012. 
  17. ^ Smith, Kyle (September 18, 2009). "Forecast: Fishy". New York Post. Retrieved September 19, 2009. 
  18. ^ Kricfalusi, John (21 September 2009). "John K Stuff: Review Of Meatballs". John K Stuff. Blogspot. Retrieved 2 May 2013. 
  19. ^ Gray, Brandon (September 21, 2009). "Weekend Report: Moviegoers Feast on ‘Meatballs,’ Slim Pickings for ‘Jennifer’". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 28, 2012. 
  20. ^ Gray, Brandon (September 28, 2009). "Weekend Report: Blue Skies for ‘Cloudy,’ Hazy Starts for ‘Surrogates,’ ‘Fame’". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 28, 2012. 
  21. ^ "37th Annual Annie Nominations and Awards Recipients". AnnieAwards.org. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  22. ^ "15TH ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS (2010) – BEST PICTURE: THE HURT LOCKER". CriticsChoice.com. November 21, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  23. ^ "THE 67TH ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS NOMINATIONS". GoldenGlobes.org. December 15, 2009. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  24. ^ "2009 Satellite Awards". PressAcademy.com. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  25. ^ "8th Annual VES Awards". VisualEffectsSociety.com. Retrieved February 7, 2012. 
  26. ^ Sony Pictures Animation (August 21, 2012). "Delicious Voice Cast Storms In To 'Cloudy 2: Revenge Of The Leftovers'". PR Newswire. Retrieved August 25, 2012. 
  27. ^ Breznican, Anthony (August 21, 2012). "CAUTION: Food may eat YOU in 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' sequel -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 22, 2012. 

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