CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (USA 2009) ***
Directed by Philip Lord and Chris Miller

Sony Pictures Animation gets its hands into 3-D with this adaptation of the children’s book of the same name.  But the film is quite different from the book’s premise.  Here, two children listen to their Grandpa Henry’s story of the strange town of Chewandswallow, where the weather comes three times a day, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, feeding its inhabitants food and beverages.

In the film however, the story reverts to a lonely and rejected kid who grows up to be an inventor – i.e. the origins of that town’s weather.  Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) is the creator of the weird weather which eventually spirals out of control.  With the help of weathergirl, Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), they save their sardine fishing town (now simply Swallowtown) and the world.

The plot’s logic is quite ridiculous compared to the book.  Once one attempts to explain any anomaly or phenomenon, one often runs into problems.  But since the film is children animation, who really cares about credibility?

Directors Lord and Miller lay on the action fast and furious.  They fortunately have quite a good sense of humour with the goofiness factor (lots of silly characters voiced by the likes of Mr. T, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Pratt and others) up a few notches thus providing quite the few loud laughs.  Flint’s father’s fishing metaphors entertain the adults.  The 3-D effects are great for the raining burgers and other food storms while parodying the Hollywood disaster movies as well.