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Template:Film infobox Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a 2009 computer-animated comedy film, loosely based on the book of the same name, produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
A sequel called Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 was released on September 27, 2013.
Plot
Flint Lockwood is an eccentric young scientist whose awkward demeanor and half-baked inventions—ratbirds, spray-on-shoes, and talking monkeys—have made him an outsider in his hometown of Swallow Falls. All that is about to change with his latest contraption: the Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Nano Dynamic Food Replicator (or FLDSNDFR for short), a miraculous machine designed to make sure nobody ever goes hungry again. But when his creation leaves the whole world in a pickle, the forecast goes from sunny to Cloudy, with a Chance of Meatballs.
Based on the best-selling book by Judi and Ron Barrett, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (co-executive producers, “How I Met Your Mother”): produced by Pam Marsden (“Dinosaur”). The CH animation was created by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Voice cast
- Bill Hader as Flint Lockwood
- Anna Faris as Sam Sparks
- Neil Patrick Harris as Steve the Monkey
- James Caan as Tim Lockwood
- Bruce Campbell as Mayor Shelbourne
- Andy Samberg as Brent McHale
- Mr. T as Officer Earl
- Bobb'e J. Thompson as Calvin Devereaux
- Benjamin Bratt as Manny
- Al Roker as Patrick Patrickson
- Lauren Graham as Frances Lockwood
- Will Forte as Joseph Towne
Production
On May 9, 2003, a year after establishment, Sony Pictures Animation announced its first animated slate, including Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, a film adaptation of the book. The Brizzi brothers were brought to direct the film, with Wayne Rice adapting the screenplay. In 2006, it was reported that the film had been helmed by new directors and writers, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. On September 18, 2008, Variety announced that Bill Hader and Anna Faris had signed on to voice the two lead characters, with James Caan, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Andy Samberg, Neil Patrick Harris, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Al Roker, Lauren Graham and Will Forte also in the voice cast. Co-writers and co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller said later that year that it would be a homage to, and a parody of, disaster films such as Twister, Armageddon, The Core, and The Day After Tomorrow. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is the second film (after Monster House) made using animation rendering software Arnold and the open source image toolkit OpenImageIO.
Trivia
- This is the first Sony Pictures Animation film to be produced in a 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio; all of that company's previous films were produced in 1.85:1.
- This is the first Sony Pictures Animation film to be scored by Mark Mothersbaugh, followed by Hotel Transylvania.
- The second Sony Pictures Animation film to be released in September, after Open Season.
- The second Sony Pictures Animation film to use the word "crap", after Surf's Up.
Gallery
Release
Reception
- Metacritic gives Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs a rating of 66/100 (Generally favorable reviews) and a average user score of 7.7/10.[1]
- Rotten Tomatoes has Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at 86% on the Tomatometer (Certified Fresh) with a viewer rating of 70%.[2]
Home media
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 5, 2010. A 3D Blu-ray was released on June 22, 2010. It was the first 3D Blu-ray sold individually in the US.[3]
Sequel
- Main article: Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers
A sequel called Cloudy 2: Revenge of the Leftovers will be released on September 27, 2013. The entire voice cast is set to return.