Went to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs last night at Chunky's Cinemas. Chunky's is a unique theater; you sit at a table rather than in rows; they serve dinner and/or snacks; and your seats are actual automotive seats taken from Lincoln limosines. It's significantly more kid-friendly than a traditional theater, as you're noshing on something while the interminable previews, ads, and exhortations scroll past. Given that TheBoy had brought a friend with him as part of the Child Reduction Pact signed with some friends of ours (we take turns relieving each other of kids for hours at a time, humorous called a "play date), it was a natural fit.
The movie is silly, completely and utterly implausible, goofy, nerdy fun. It's the standard fish-out-of-water story, the kid who never quite fit in growing into a gangly adult who doesn't fit in who somehow hits it big and changes under the spotlight. The characters are a delightfully odd assortment of clichés, stock characters, and novelties; with just enough backstory given for the main players to be more than mere cardboard cutouts. The action is non-stop - the movie lags but a moment in the beginning as we learn about the central character as a child, then ramps up to breakneck speed quickly.
And yes, our favorite character actor Bruce Campbell has an appearance...
Overall, I found it to be an excellent movie to take the family to see. The movie is short, clocking in at a hair over an hour and twenty minutes, which makes it just about perfect for a family movie for those that have younger kids with microscopic attention spans. There are subtle - but not overdone or overused - pop culture references sprinkled throughout for the parents, and madcap silliness in the form of the food falling from the sky for the kids.
An enthusiastic two thumbs up for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs from the MArooned Movie Critic.
That is all.
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4 comments:
Jay,
MyProgeny has been wanting to see "Cloudy" for some time. One of these weekends when we're not doing anything -- yeah, that will be when I'm dead -- we'll get there. If we miss it in the theater, we'll catch it in HD, on demand or something.
+1 on Chunkies. I'm about 15 minutes from their Nashua location. Been there a couple times.
If you like Bruce Campbell, have you seen him in "Burn Notice" on USA Network? He plays a very deadpan ex-spy. Worth a look.
- Brad_in_MA
Just sent the oldest off with her best friend to go see it. The Mrs. was supposed to go, but she's sick. I'd have taken her place, but it's awkward going with another mother. Besides, I go shooting with her husband.
So, I'll have to wait until it pops up on Netflix.
Does it have anything to do with the book? That was my favorite book as a kid and I hate to ruin something I love and have loved sharing with my children. I'm afraid Hollywood is going to screw it up.
I loved the book, but I'd give the movie mixed reviews. In fact, I did just that in my blog when the movie first came out: http://daisybrain.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/cloudy-with-a-chance-of-meatballs-review/
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