The Movie
Based upon the popular 1982 children's book by Judi Barrett and Ron Barrett, but with a style all its own, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs tells the story of an underdog inventor looking to prove himself in a cynical world. Everyone in his island town has been eating sardines since the local cannery shut down, so he invents a way to turn water into any food he can think of. But when a freak accident sends the device up into the clouds, all sorts of edibles begin raining down on the citizenry. The situation is as good as it tastes... until greed and a series of bad decisions send everything out of control.
Cloudy is ultimately a tale of finding the confidence to hold onto your dreams, about the love between a father and a son, and even between a boy and a girl before the end credits roll. The filmmakers put in some really funny little jokes that the kids couldn't possibly get, so there really is something for everyone here.
Also read Joe Lozito's review of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
The Picture
The digital animation here is wonderfully detailed, with certain elements within the 2.35:1 frame bordering on photo-realism: the hair on the distinctively designed characters, the all-important clouds. The lighting effects in virtually every scene are also remarkably lifelike, but what really struck me was the absolutely gorgeous palette, with some shots looking like works of sumptuous art come to life. This movie was shown in 3D in some theaters but that option is not offered here, perhaps because 3D Blu-ray is poised for its next big step. [editor's note: Yes, this title wil be one of the first offered on 3D Blu-ray later this year following the new 3D Blu-ray specifications. Including a lower quality anaglyph version on this initial Blu-ray release, as has been done with some previous 3D movies on Blu-ray Disc, would have been counter-productive and could have led to consumer confusion].
The Sound
As we should expect, rain envelops us and thunder booms, in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Front-to-back directionality is also on display amid all the wild action. The gleefully bizarre sonic moments are plentiful, as when a giant fishbowl drops upside-down onto a character, or food molecules begin mutating around us, or a couple bounces inside a giant Jello mold, or giant steaks slam down on tables all over a roofless restaurant. Some of the scenarios must be seen to be believed, frankly, but more traditional use of the soundstage is made by cheering crowds and fireworks. This track is great fun, and a good fit for the movie.
The Extras
Screenwriters/directors Christopher Miller and Phil Lord share the audio commentary with their star, actor Bill Hader. In one of the cleverer uses of BonusView technology thus far, we are invited to watch the movie in a "Splat Mode!" which throws various foodstuffs at the screen, or wipes it clean, all using the remote control. Flint's Food Fight game provides more interactive fun.
A pair of featurettes ensues: an 11-minute "making of" and 13 minutes up close with the cast at work in the recording booth. Two extended scenes proffer two-and-a-half minutes of rough animation, while two "Early Development Scenes" serve up six minutes of artists' sketches. Five "progression reels," which illustrate the development of the animation quality, receive an introduction from the visual effects supervisor, eight minutes in all. All of these video extras are in high definition.
Miranda Cosgrove's "Raining Sunshine" music video can be viewed in a sing-along version too (four minutes each), with its own two-minute "behind the scenes" video. This portion is in standard definition. "Make It Rain Food" is a 32-second public service announcement about fighting hunger. A Digital Copy of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for the PlayStation Portable (transferable from the Blu-ray disc to the PlayStation 3 hard disk drive) is supplied, while Disc Two is a standard-definition DVD with select bonus features of its own.
Final Thoughts
With humor, thrills, relatable characters and even a lesson or two, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs covers all the bases for a truly worthwhile family film, while the goofy/pretty imagery, immersive sound and enjoyable extras make for a terrific Blu-ray.
Product Details
- Voice Actors: Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T, Bobb'e J. Thompson, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Al Roker, Lauren Graham, Will Forte
- Directors: Phil Lord & Christopher MillerNeill Blomkamp
- Audio Format/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English, French), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish)
- Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Spanish Commentary
- Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
- Number of discs: 2
- Rating: PG
- Studio: Sony
- Release Date: January 5, 2010
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- List Price: $39.95
- Extras:
- Audio commentary by Christopher Miller, Phil Lord and Bill Hader
- Deleted Scenes
- Splat Mode! (BonusView)
- Flint's Food Fight Game
- "A Recipe for Success: The Making of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
- Key Ingredients: The Voices of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
- Extended Scenes
- Early Development Scenes
- Progression Reels with Introduction by Visual FX Supervisor Rob Bredow
- Miranda Cosgrove's "Raining Sunshine" music video and "making of"
- "Make It Rain Food" PSA
- BD-Live
- Standard-Definition DVD Copy
- Digital Copy for PSP
