Review
Moviegoers leave ‘Cloudy’ starved for better plot, more humor
October 3, 2013
Get ready for a second wind as “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” rolls into theaters.
Unfortunately, not with as much charm as the original.
Flint Lockwood wanted to change the world with his amazing invention that could turn water into food. He ultimately screwed up, but fixed his mistakes, showing his grit as an inventor. Now he has been given the chance by his inventor idol to make new inventions for the world, though he must work away from his friends.
But now he is called back to his old island home, where his old invention is wreaking havoc and creating life all of its own. Flint and his friends must journey to this familiar, yet foreign land in order to stop his machine and prove his worth as an inventor.
If there was anything I was expecting from this sequel to the first film, it was everything that made the first film great.
The first film was chock full of visual gags, fast and creative character movements and a good, unique set of humor I had not seen in an animated film before. As such, I was really craving all that in the sequel, and while what I got was all right in some of those areas, it just did not have the charm the original had.
The main problem I had with this film was the overall feel it gave, which is derived from many smaller problems. The plot of the film, which I will not spoil, was surprisingly well tread, recycling plot devices I had seen used in many films and media before. This took away a lot of the special feeling I got from the original. The fact that the directors from the last film are gone for the sequel shows very much, knowing this.
Much of the humor from the last movie has changed, seeming to go more for puns wherever there could be placed, as opposed to using the visuals to tell the jokes. For the most part, the movie felt very well-tread compared to the last film and I did not feel that many events and sweet moments in this movie were deserved.
To the movie’s credit though, the animation and designs for the food island are very colorful and fun. Many clever animals are made for this island, from Tacodiles to Shrimpanzees, and the animation of the characters is very playful, smooth and clean, with the villain of the film being particularly well animated.
Visually the film holds up well and carries the fast paced filming from the last film, if anything was to be carried.
I recommend going to see “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.” However, if you are looking for something beyond plots of friendship, money gaining and gratuitous pun action, then you might want to look for another animated film to watch.
Ryan Funes is a lover of all things movie, TV, video games and stories and wants to become a television writer someday. In his spare time he enjoys hanging with friends, tapping into his imagination, and watching cartoons of all kinds.