If you love the book don't go it is not anything close to the books plot.It is good to see if you did not read the book. The book is a kid friendly tail about a place that gets food from the weather than they get to much then they find a new place to live. But the movie has it all different.
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-apropriate 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?
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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 Pictures Entertainment, 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 all 114 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
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I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
Acually a very good movie. I highly recemmend it!
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
GREAT MOVIE!!
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
good movie
Pretty much the only reason I watched this movie was so I could wright a review. I didn't think I would like it because it didn't look anything like the book, but as it's own movie it was good.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
It was pretty cute. We thought the scary food close to the end was a little much. Now my kids are going around kissing people with their checks full of air! :)
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Kids will find it funny, but it will most likely bore adults.
Okay, here's my review on Cloudy with a chance of meatballs. First, the violence. The only scariness in the movie is one part where a spaghetti tornado threatens the city and swallows up people. Most 5 or 6 year olds should be able to just laugh at this though. If they don't, just assure them there is no such thing as a spaghetti tornado. =) In this movie, the only sexual stuff is Flint constantly tries to kiss Sam, but she refuses, until the end, where they finally do. Nothing bad you need to worry about there. The language is the reason it's PG. It's probably the worst thing in there, but not to worry, it's not frequent, and it's all mild. The language includes "hell hole," "knuckle scrapers," "crazy jerk," "stupid," and a few more mild insults. If you think your 6 year old can handle this, go ahead and try this movie out. There is one thing I warn you about though: don't expect too much from this movie, because you'll find it to be cute and somewhat funny, but it's short and will most likely satisfy kids, not adults. I rated it 2.5 stars, which rounds up to 3. Anyone my age will most likely be able to sit through this movie, but not fully enjoy it.
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I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Its OK..
The movie is good, but I agree with scariness. It is scary.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
AWESOME FOOD MOVIE! 7+
AMAZING!! haha. i like all the food stuff, steve the monkey, and characters. "AVACADOS!!!!" - old man in the movie. this movie made me laugh! you should see it!
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I rate this title off for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
Pure Drivel
I hated this movie. (Okay, I'm a children's librarian, so that might have something to do with it.) The whole movie represented vapid commercialism and I found it painful to sit through. The storyline and style of animation did not so much as give a nod to the book. The book portrayed the food-falling weather patterns as a fluke of nature. The movie recast the situation as being created by a scientist kid. What's most sad, to me, is that in the sequel "Pickles to Pittsburgh" Chewandswallow learns to package the food and ship it around the world so that no one would ever be hungry again, an aspect of selfishness that was nowhere to be seen in this movie. Pure drivel.
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate language
they used a language as (sex and u--y are bleeped and unbleeped are kind of a b word and f.)
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My highlights are:
perfect for most kids
I love this movie but it is very different from the book. So don't be too surprised if you don't think there much alike. I liked the tomato tornado.
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I rate this title on for age 6 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
good movie that satisfies more than planet 51
this movie is much better than planet 51. If u are one of those people who can't decide wether to see planet 51 or cloudy with a chance of meatballs go see cloudy with a chance of meatballs! This movie if funnier, funer, and more entertaining and enjoyable.
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I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
awesome
It is one of my favorite movies ever!!!
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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
A humorous movie packed with fun. Go see it!
I definitely thought cloudy with a chance of meatballs was a cool movie. I read the short book right before seeing it though and it really contrasts to the book. First of all it is supposedly a real life situation instead of a story, but ur average 5 or 6 year old wont care. Flint wants Sam to be his girlfriend, and they finally kiss in one scene. The violence isnt really VIOLENCE, its just a wave of food destroying a city. The humor in the movie was uplifting, and i laughed alot. Following your dreams is a persistent message in this movie. Flint is a good role model, he doesnt care about being "nerdy" or "uncool" or whateva. I really liked the movie and so did my 7 year old sister. I only put five because if u have a ultra sensetive kid, they could be a little shaken by food attacking the city. But that applies to really easily disturbed kids that are under the age of five. Well yea there ya go.
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I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
- My highlights are:
Great for a young audience
He never gives up on his dream and dreams big. My son loved this movie and to be honest I really did also.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
The kids loved it! I thought it was OK.
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I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
bad movie. trust me, you dont want to see it.
first of all, it is relly lame. it is about 45 minutes too long.i cant really explain the violence, theres hardly any in it. a girl is cut by something, and a bunch of food rains down on people, wich is a little violent.its also pretty scary that somone made a movie this bad.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Nothing like the book
If you're taking your child to see this movie because he or she loved the book, then you should know: this movie is almost nothing like the book. It IS, however, a very interesting movie about a topic we don't talk about much: gluttony. Serves as a good discussion movie. And at least it is 'clean.'
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I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
The kids loved it
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
A Must go see!
Only got blah the last 2 minutes when you know it had to end somehow.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 55% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 31% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 26% | of parents say it's too violent |
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