Cloudy... with a chance of Pancake!

Before we get down to the nitty gritty, there are indeed a couple of announcements. The first is that (oh man i feel awesome!) i am featured by my girl Jenny:Mistress of Peanut Butter. I think its fair to say that i will ALWAYS be a pancake man when it comes to breakfast food. But, oatmeal is still awesome on occasion and that morning something was speaking to me. Also, there is still one day left in the GIVEAWAY! Lastly, there has been a severe thorn in the side of this cake lover recently and i am happy to say that a plan is being concocted for a revenge that is sweeter than pumpkin!Stay tuned for the sweet pancake and the sweet revenge. And now....

MOVIE REVIEW

Now, i'm the first to admit when something seems a little juvenille (even for me). This film started out as no exception, i remember reading the book and that memory alone was jogging some memories for me. Then, when I got to the theater I noticed there was a showing 30 minutes after the one I planned to see that was not only in the imax screen but also in 3-D!!!! I figured if the novelty of the third dimension could save a movie like 'The Final Destination", then it would do wonders for a movie that was already based on whimsy.

Boy... was i right! The 3D was AWESOME. There is something about a giant ball of meat flying at you in that neglected dimension that brings you back to sitting on the magic carpet reading your favorite book while trading a fruit roll-up to the paste eating kid because he is having graham crackers today (can you tell writing this review is making yours truly a bit hungry?)

Hunger aside, the plot is pretty solid and delivers a strong "If you can dream it you can do it" message. There are times where it even gets a little deep. Such moments include the endearing awkwardness of Flint Lockwood around his female love intrest, and continue on to a distant father struggling to give advice to his son... when it is clear the mother did all the talking in this department. However, this proposed a problem for the father (voiced by the wonderful James Caan) since, sadly, the maternal side of the partnership has moved on to the next life. Thus... the struggle of Father and son is surpassed only by the struggle of our hero (voiced by Bill Heder) to not let the fame of food-weather manipulation go t his head while struggling to 'meat' the towns requests. Bascially, Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs may not be a "Homeward Bound Tear Jerker" btu does have its moments when you wish you could reach through the screen and help our hero overcome his life-decisions. All in all, Couldy with a chance of Meatballs gets 7/10 meatballs.

Not only is the plot of the movie endearing/entertaining... but the voiceovers are uh-maiz-ing! Picture this: Bill Heder, James Caan, Anna Farris (House Bunny, Scary Movie), Mr. T, Andy Sandberg (Hot Rod), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Bubba Ho-Tep) and Neil Patrick Harris as 'Steve: the Lab-Monkey!' In the words of gershwin... 'Who could ask for anything more'

Well friends, the tummy is rumbling which is my signal that it is time to prep a snack and sit down in front of some 'Rob and Big' (<-- guilty pleasure). Tune in tomorrow for the winner of the giveaway and a newly inspired pancake! Until then this is PanClayke reminding you; "If you can dream it... you can do it!"