Thanks for the memories!

So much average

Powerful

Fresh and Exciting

I know I'm too late to review this film, but I decided to do it anyway. Cloudy 2 didn't really interest me all that much from the previews, and I initially wanted to decline this before I saw it(I was actually more interested in Despicable Me 2, which was too cheesy in my opinion). But then, the weekend it came out, I was dealing with school and things like that until my mom asked: "Wanna go watch Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2?". I said yes because I haven't seen my mom much because she was always working, so I decided to spend time with her. It turns out that Cloudy 2 was actually really good! The visual effects are dazzling(water, sparks, fire, other textures) and the 3 of us were laughing out loud a lot(my brother and my mom), along with the rest of the audience erupting with laughter throughout the show. The characters are love-able and hilarious, the humor is sharp and witty, the animation is detailed and crisp and the food animals are adorable. What's not to love? Also, one thing to note is that I saw it in 3D, and it actually really makes the special FX work and it did make me flinch at times. So make sure you see it in the added dimension for more depth. Note that I saw it first release.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013): Dir: Cody Cameron, Kris Pearn / Voices: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Will Forte, Andy Samberg: Creative animation sequel that opens with a review of the events of the first film where Flint Lockwood's food machine run amuck creating weird weather involving food. This time out he enters a contest of inventions in order to work with his idol Chester V. Central plot regards his home island and the food / animals spurned from his food machine. This is where the film gets creative and hilarious with Cheespiders, Watermelophant, Meatbalrus, Fruit Cockatiel, Tacodile supreme, Shrimpanzee, kiwi birds, Mosquitoast, Cantelope, Susheep, Hippotatomus, Buffaloaf, Flamangos, and "a leek in the boat." Directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn do a great job at spoofing Jurassic Park in accompanying the whole spoofing of wild life throughout. Bill Hader voices Flint whose good will falls victim to bad influence. Anna Faris voices weather intern Sam Sparks who is Flint's girlfriend and is worried that he is becoming too occupied with impressing the wrong factors. James Caan voices Flint's widowed fisherman father who adapts well to the island when left at the boat. Will Forte voices Chester V who deceives Flint with alternative plans that threaten the food animals. Andy Samberg voices a former celebrity mascot named Brent McHale. This is quite fun for the whole family with terrific animation for the kids while adults will enjoy the clever puns littered throughout. In the end it makes for a great take-out movie going experience. Score: 8 / 10

The story isn't great, about a 6/10, but I'm giving it an 8 purely because of how beautiful the art is in this film. I'm a concept artist so backgrounds and cinematography tend to be things I notice a lot more in movies. The cinematography and set design are incredible in this film. I was blown away by how gorgeous it is. It's not just good for a kids movie, it's just good art. The color schemes and shifts from scene to scene are top notch. Some of the best I've seen of any kids cartoon movie and comparable to: Princess and The Frog, Cinderella, Nausicaa, Akira, Lupin III, Kiki's Delivery Sevice, the first Toy Story, etc. I had to keep pausing the movie just to take screenshots. Anyway, that's why I'm rating it so high.

I really really enjoyed the first "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" and was looking forward for a sequel. However, if there just isn't enough materials or creative ideas to make a sequel, it's better to not go through with it. This movie is riddled with lots and lots of puns and that is probably why this movie got green-lit in the first place. Because this movie all around had no creativity and everything just seemed forced. The movie is around an hour and 30 minutes but felt longer. With a story that just seemed so forced with little to no substance. Just the group going through a forest full of food that came alive. Now that I think about it, the plot doesn't make any sense either. I was just bored with this one and didn't get even close to the entertainment value I was looking forward for. I recommend people to just watch the first one and pass on this one.3.8/10