Imagine an island where you’d never starve because there are gigantic food portions everywhere. No, the gigantic portions of food are not a reference to Big Macs, though there is a giant cheeseburger spider-thing, complete with fries for legs. If you thought that the first movie had a lot of food, think bigger because Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 really goes all out and gets delightfully creative with the food this time around.
Exactly eight minutes after Flint Lockwood (voice of funnyman Bill Hader) saves the world from enormous food portions, he gets with meteorologist Sam Sparks (voice of Anna Faris) and makes his dad Tim (voice of James Caan) proud. Together with Mr. T-like cop Earl Devereaux (voice of Terry Crews) and former bully Brent (voice of Andy Samberg), the group agrees to work together.
Immediately after the pact, in swoops Chester V (voice of Will Forte), a scientist the likes of Bill Nye the Science guy, only much more sinister in nature. Flint quickly falls for his act of goodwill because he’s admired the scientist his entire life and fanboys over him while Chester takes charge and boots Flint and his friends from the island.
He convinces Flint to join his company, Live Corp, where the younger scientist spends six months attempting to please Chester. Flint is ultimately drawn back to help get rid of the food animals that now inhabit the island. But Flint and his friends begin to question whether that’s the right thing to do.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (and isn’t that a mouthful?) is a different kind of sequel. The first film has Flint seeking approval. The sequel is a quest movie. Flint is on a quest different in nature; one is to destroy, and later help the food animals, and the second is the quest to realize that he now has friends he can trust and doesn’t have to rely on himself anymore.
The characters are actually better rounded this time and evolve in fun ways. Now that they’re all together, the dynamic of the film is much more fun and lighthearted. It’s what the first film kind of lacked and what the sequel has in spades. The voice cast is spot on and Will Forte as Chester V is especially entertaining. You’ll laugh at him and get frustrated with him in the span of five minutes.
The creative team really put in a great effort to bring to life the food animals. Flamangoes, cheese spiders, and a little strawberry named Berry bring amusing and cute touches to the film. Probably the funniest moment comes when the strawberry named Berry translates what Flint is saying to the other food animals. Classic and the highlight of the entire movie. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is better than the original on first watch and will entertain at every age.
