Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

The review gives the film four stars and presents it as a challenger to Pixar’s dominance in computer animation. The available text singles out that challenge, but does not reveal a specific element of the film that the critic praises.

O’Hara finds the film bright, silly and entertaining, though familiar story themes slow the second act. She praises its witty dialogue, lively voice cast and effective 3D spectacle.

Keleman finds the film sweet, buoyant, and imaginative, though less nuanced than its Pixar peers. He praises the heartfelt father-son relationship for grounding the food-frenzy spectacle.

Phipps finds the film brisk, bright, and winning, though its warning about abundance already feels out of touch. He praises its clever sight gags, lively visual style, and endearing characters.

Brooks finds the film an exuberant, varied animated comedy and a sly parable of consumption. He praises its mix of the bland and bizarre, sweet and sour, and its imaginative food-based set pieces.

Farber finds the film’s premise appealing but says the story and animation do not sustain a feature-length runtime. He praises James Caan’s performance and some visual gags, while noting that the target audience may still enjoy it.

The critic considers the film a surprisingly strong kids’ movie and an excellent comedy. They especially praise its writing and humor, which work for adults as well as children.

The critic finds the film funny, sweet, and inventive, though it falls short of classic status. He especially praises its strong pacing and the heartfelt father-son relationship.

Brew warmly recommends the film and calls it one of 2009’s most welcome animated surprises. He praises its vibrant, inventive visuals, while noting that the story feels too slight for its runtime.

The critic finds it a worthwhile, harmless family film, though its moralizing can become wearying. They praise its imaginative food-related humor and its action-film parody, while noting that 3D adds little.

Gray finds the film a thin, forgettable family adventure despite its appeal to children. He praises the comic Baby Brent and the touching relationship between Flint and his father, but criticizes the repetitive set pieces and restrained use of 3D.