Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

 TREVOR DUNNING

If you’ve come here from why I think Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” is a queer allegory then prepare to be disappointed, I fear this is just a review. That being said, this movie is a cinematic experience like no other and cannot be topped.

The film centers around Flint Lockwood, a struggling scientist who lives with his dad on an island in the Mid-Atlantic. He invents a machine that makes food out of water and manages to save his small town from eating just sardines. That is, until it goes completely awry and he has to destroy the very thing that gave him fame, Icarus flying too close to the sun type vibe.

The highlight of this movie really is the script. It is tightly written, letting us experience the highs and lows that exist in Lockwood life. We begin to fully understand him as a human being, his wants and needs, his aspirations. If you want to hear more about my thoughts on the script, feel free to read my piece about why this film is secretly a queer allegory.

The only place this film falters is in its animation. The majority of the time it is great, especially with the food set pieces. There are times when you can feel the baloony nature of these characters a little bit too much. I was highly uncomfortable when Lockwood and Sam Sparks, the lesbian love interest, tried to kiss each other.

Despite this, this movie remains a highlight and should be credited for the masterpiece it is.