sooooooooo funny and cute :)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Age-appropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, family relationships
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 6 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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Sexy stuff:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Parents need to know that this adaptation of the classic children's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is bound to attract the 10-and-under set. While there's nothing overtly age-inappropriate in the movie, expect a bit of salty language along the lines of "hell" and and the occasional mild insult like "stupid" or "knuckle scrapers." The few tense/slightly scary scenes are weather- and giant food-related -- which could upset little kids who are sensitive to fears about natural disasters -- and there's a brewing romance between the main character and a weather reporter. Although no grand life lessons are offered, the movie does center on a son's need for fatherly encouragement and the idea that you shouldn't compromise who you are just to be popular. The movie's plot is very different than the book's, so anyone expecting a straight adaptation will be disappointed.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the movie's message about compromising yourself for the sake of popularity. Is that ever worth it? How does Sam change once she knows that Flint likes that she's actually smart?
- How does the movie portray technology? When does the experiment go wrong?
- Why does Flint want his father's approval so badly? Does his father have a point in discouraging Flint's inventions?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
What’s the Story?
Based loosely (very loosely) on the popular children's book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, this animated adventure takes the book's story about a town where weather provides fully cooked meals and turns it into a 3-D fantasy about Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader), a young inventor who creates a device that transforms water into food. When Flint's invention is launched into the sky, he inadvertently saves the town of Swallow Falls from financial and nutritional ruin. Helping the town make its unique claim to fame is weather reporter Sam (Anna Faris), who's smitten with Flint. As the Swallow Falls residents (especially the fatter-and-fatter mayor, voiced by Bruce Campbell) become greedier with their daily meal requests , Flint's invention becomes more and more overheated -- until it leads to a culinary disaster that could destroy the world.
Is It Any Good?
Sony Pictures Animation may not be Pixar (and, to be fair, no studio is Pixar), but it previously scored with the fantastically imaginative Monster House, the charming buddy comedy Open Season, and the penguin's paradise Surf's Up. Cloudy seems like a step backward, even though it's an obvious transition into the profitable 3-D genre. The voice talent is there (Faris, in particular, is an adroit voice actress, and Mr. T is laugh-aloud funny as an overly eager town cop), but the story is not only completely unlike the book upon which it's supposedly based but, frankly, a tad unengaging for adult audiences, who are by now used to more sophisticated animated films.
That's not to say that parents won't laugh along with their young children at the sight of a Neapolitan-ice-cream snowfall or a drizzle of steak falling onto diners' plates at a trendy, roofless restaurant. But part of the book's magic is that it's a bedtime tale about a town where food just rains down. The movie, by comparison, seems like a cautionary tale about dependence on genetically modified "techno-food" -- a science experiment gone amok. Despite the occasional jokes, there's no emotional attachment to the main character, the way you feel about Shrek, Nemo, Woody, or even Sid the Sloth. By the end, the hurricane of pasta and avalanche of leftovers might as well bury the town. Then at least the 3-D effects would at least be spectacular.
Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar, Directors: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Run time: 81 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/18/2009, DVD release: 1/5/2010
MPAA Rating: PG for brief mild language
Run time: 81 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/18/2009, DVD release: 1/5/2010
MPAA Rating: PG for brief mild language
Our Members Say
See 147 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
good all ages
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
One of 2009's greatest!
It was absolutely adorable and hilarious, and it sends messages to be yourself. Great movie!
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A Hilarious Family Movie
I seriously laughed almost every minute. I didn't hear any bad language. It was intresting and fun. It had some creepy parts like when they trying to get to the FLDSMDFR and they came across giant chickens. I say it's a good movie for young kids and adults.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
great movie
I loved this movie so much! great for the whole family
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
A great family movie!
A fun movie that the whole family will enjoy! Although I don't think the movie said any bad language like "hell hole" which they said they did. And I know the movie did not say that because I put subtitles on and it didn't mention it. The only mild language I heard was "crap balls". Well anyway, I thought it was a really funny flick!
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
- User content isn't age appropriate
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Wow this movie is great!.I love it.It's Great for everybody.Just watch it!.Trust me U wanna see this movie.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
Great for all!
Its a great movie love all the food I just saw it today for the second time in the theater i loved it all over again!
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Cloudy With a Chance of Good Movies
This was a pretty good movie that left my mouth watering at the end. I was so hungry! It was very funny and the acting put together with the animation was hysterical! It also taught that science is cool and shouldn't be laughed at. My final verdict, buy it on DVD NOW!
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Kids ages: 6, 8, 10, 12
I rate this title on for age 6 and give itThe relationship between the main character and his dad gives families something to discuss and hopefully it will better their parent/child communication.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
all kids
i have the movie
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
It's an alright kids movie
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a silly kids' film, but it's pretty enjoyable and entertainment for the whole family. It's about this guy named Flint Lockwood who invents a machine which converts water into food. Sometimes, it ruins the whole town. CWACOM isn't inappropiate but it was pretty enthusing to me. I'd give it a 3/5.
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
For me it was just too boring.
Boring. That's about all I have to say. :)
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Kids ages: 3, 5, 5, 8
I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
Good for ages 3 and up!
I think this is a great movie. Mmy kids love it and they are ages 3-7. Great animation and funny senorio.
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Good for older kids
With a hurricane of food, language with the word "hell" once, I'd say it's iffy for seven-year-olds. But, it has a good role model story with Sam being called "nerdy" and not letting anyone put her down.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive consumerism
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
I love it because Flint is a nice boy.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
This is a great movie for kids!
I love it! It's not long, not short, and not much iffy stuff!
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
yay
Flint from when he was young wanted to be a inventor and when hes older he does just that, but things start going teribly wrong. it was very funny when brent turned into a chicken n flint n sam fought them off..lol
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
perfect
cool
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Kids ages: 8, 9
I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
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Ratings at a Glance
| 52% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 27% | of parents say there are good role models |
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