Movie Review: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (3D)

It’s full of bright colours, adorable animals and age-appropriate fun. It doesn’t need to be anything more because it’s audience doesn’t require more, and concerned parents can enjoy peace of mind.

The film picks up where the first one left off. The young inventor at the centre of the story, Flint (Bill Hader) and his friends have finally managed to stop the food-making machine, the FLDSMDFR, from destroying the earth. After a thunderous food storm, the super-inventor Chester V (Will Forte), who is the CEO of Live Corp and Flint’s childhood hero, is tasked to clean the island, relocating the citizens of Swallow Falls to San Franjose.

Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn take over directing duties from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and prove to be inspired choices. Using the same successful recipe as the first film, there are times when things feel overplayed or somewhat forced, but it’s all a great laugh. Puns are everywhere, both visual and verbal, from the “leak” in the boat to hippotatoes, shrimpanzees and flamangoes. And so, the silliness continues.

Chester soon learns that the machine is still in operation and makes plans to use it, sending Flint back to Swallow Falls to locate it. Our hero takes his friends along, and this intrepid group go in search of the device. On their way, they come in contact with a number of the feared “foodimals”, who they realised belatedly are as scared of the humans, as humans are of them.

The good versus evil part of the adventure begins here, though this is a cinematic world where good always prevails. The film is loud, chaotic and full of action .

At its heart, the film carries a message about loyalty, driving home the importance of family and friendship.