Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Sequels are typically a fast way for the production company to make more money on the coattails of its predecessor. I suppose this is probably why I've waited this long to view "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" since it was released on Sept. 27th, because my suspicions were fairly accurate.

After the disastrous food storm in the first film, Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) and his friends, Sam Sparks, Brent McHale, Manny, Earl Devereaux, Steve and his dad, Tim (Anna Faris, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, Terry Crews, Neil Patrick Harris, and James Caan) respectively, are forced to leave Swallow Falls, their town. Flint accepts the invitation from his scientist idol Chester V (Will Forte) to join The Live Corp. Company, which has been tasked to clean the island, and where the best inventors in the world create technologies for the betterment of mankind. When Flint discovers that his machine still operates and now creates mutant food beasts like living pickles, hungry tacodiles, ravenous cheeseburgers, shrimpanzees, and apple pie-thons, he and the others must return to save the world.

Others to round out the cast are Kristen Schaal as Barb, Cody Cameron as Barry/Dill Pickle, Melissa Sturm as Sentinel Louise/Live Corp. Scientist, Kris Pearn as Sentinel Peter/Labcoat Jenny, Craig Kellman as Fintly McCallahan/Idea Pants Guy, Khamani Griffin as Cal Devereaux, Earl's son, and Bridget Hoffman as Young Flint.

Considering their lack of theatrical film directing, Cody Cameron ("Open Season 3" '10) and Kris Pearn actually pulled off helming this. They really were able to make these characters come to life. It was written by Erica Rivinoja, John Francis Daley, and Jonathan M. Goldstein based on a story by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Erica Rivinoja, which is based on the book written and illustrated by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett. This is where this doesn't quick excel as it could. The lines were somewhat trite and corny--hey, I know this is for kids, but most of the animated films made are generally written, to some degree for adults--best of both worlds approach. So it made it fairly difficult to get through it. Where this film did excel is in the incredible animation by Sony Pictures Imageworks who also created the animation for the first film. This is the only reason why one would need to see this on the large screen

This is obviously a great film for families--the bright animation, humor, excitement, but even though it's not quite as well put together as with the first film, this still has something that will allow you to have some fun.

Out of 4 Stars: 2                           Rated: PG                         95mins.