Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

          I was really looking forward to the “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” sequel.  The first one was a fantastic family film, with humor and a strong message about believing in one’s self.  And what makes it a classic is the cute/clever moments littered throughout the film that appeals to adults as well as children.  When I saw the trailer for part 2, I was immediately excited by the prospect of another adventure with Flint Lockwood and his friends, and with the added element of the foodimals on an island ala Jurassic Park: The Lost World.  And much like that sequel “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2” does not live up to unique quality of the original.

We pick up minutes after the last film, that’s even called out which was a good sign of that clever humor from the previous film.  Then as they say it was all downhill from there.  Gone is the originality, gone is the surprise laughs, and gone is the great story with fun characters.  What we’re left with is a carbon copy of a carbon copy.  You get glimpses of the familiar, but not much more, they try to introduce a new villain that while moves funny, does very little to make the story any more interesting. 

Enough of the bashing, as far as sequels go it was a noble effort, the little bits that are funny are littered throughout and the foodimals are cute and clever.  But having our hero Flint not growing after his first encounter with his out-of-control inventions seems out of place.  Kids will still enjoy the film, but it will not have the lasting re-watching power of the first “Cloudy”.  Even with shrimpanzees.

 

--Robert L. Castillo