Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Trailer

Now, If They Could Just Figure Out How to Make it Rain Beer

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (43)

We almost get tired of hearing ourselves say it, but there is no animation company quite like Pixar. But if there’s a number two in the game, it may be Sony Pictures animation, who offered up the swell Monster House and the decent Surf’s Up. Their latest looks like their best to date, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, based on the children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett.

The movie, which will be screened in 3D, follows an inventor who stumbles upon an invention that turns water into food, hence the title. Dude can make it rain spaghetti, hamburgers, pancakes and Jell-O. It’s a promising premise, and the animation is sparkly. And hell: They managed to get Mr. T, Tracey Morgan, and Bruce Campbell to do voice work (in addition to Bill Hader and Anna Faris).

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Comments

How you can even think about beer after the last few days is beyond me.

Regardless, that's one of the best voice talent lineups I've seen in a long time.

Posted by: TK at March 19, 2009 10:58 AM

Loosely based. There were no scientists in the book. The town of Chewandswallow was just a natural aberration. I may be the only one with an undying fondness for that book, but that will probably ruin this movie for me.

Posted by: elizabeth at March 19, 2009 11:00 AM

Now that looks like fun. The things we could do in huge piles of spaghetti!

Posted by: Cindy at March 19, 2009 11:02 AM

How you can even think about beer after the last few days is beyond me.

Posted by: TK at March 19, 2009 10:58 AM
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No matter how many I have I'm ALWAYS thinking about my next beer. Of course, I'm drinking way better beer than PBR, so I have lots to look forward to.

Posted by: bucdaddy at March 19, 2009 11:05 AM

The things we could do in huge piles of spaghetti!

I told you, Sarina! I TOLD YOU!

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 11:07 AM

This. Looks. AWESOME. Baby Bullet and I don't agree on many movies (If she mentions Hannah Montana one more time . . . ) but we are going to run to see this one.

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at March 19, 2009 11:13 AM

Rowles, stop being a shill for the corporate titans that run Hollywood. Pixar is a franchise owned by these raiders who hope to dispose of the mom and pop companies that built Hollywood. Rowles, you have lost your concern for the common man. I want the old Rowles back dammit!

Posted by: Pookie at March 19, 2009 11:16 AM

(But please, not PBR)

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 11:16 AM

I have moved beyond hipster, to the point where it is no longer ironic to drink PBR. It is, in fact, just shitty beer.

Posted by: Snath at March 19, 2009 11:19 AM

Who am I kidding, I was never a hipster. I just hate PBR.

Posted by: Snath at March 19, 2009 11:19 AM

Oh, it wasn't even ironic yet in mid 90s Athens, just cheap, like Gumby's Pizza. But no, it's not very good, and I've just got no head for lager now.

Rain bitter o'er me!

(besides, Icehouse is what really gets you there and it's not expensive either)

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 11:23 AM

It's weird. I wasn't going to bother with filling out another bracket until I saw a t-shirt was offered as a prize. Strangely the $50 wouldn't be enough motivation. But validation that I can wear and pretend that I won through wit instead of luck and a basic knowledge of basketball? Priceless.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at March 19, 2009 11:26 AM

Monster House was not exactly a wonderment. We go to kids' movies with a friend and her daughter, and I know my friend slept through at least half of it.

I suspect poor old Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is going to get the cinematic Seussian treatment -- take a thin story, beef it up with unnecessary bullshit backstory to fill out 80 minutes, and give it a gimmick like 3-D or a zany actor to do the main voice.

It's a cute little story, but if Surf's Up and Monster House are anything to go by, this won't even be dollar-movie fare.

Posted by: Wednesday at March 19, 2009 11:30 AM

I'm just disturbed by the kids caught like flies in amber. How long could you hold your breath while trying to claw your way out of a generic dessert product?

Posted by: Mrcreosote at March 19, 2009 11:44 AM

Ooooooo you know what would make for REALLY good rain? Skittles. Then you could really taste the Rainbow. That and I just absolutely fucking love Skittles. Love love love love love.

Posted by: Jeremy Feist at March 19, 2009 11:52 AM

Now that looks like fun. The things we could do in huge piles of spaghetti!

I beg of you, don't fill my love of Strega Nona with dirty thoughts!

Posted by: branded at March 19, 2009 11:52 AM

You would be suffocated so fast if you jumped into a solid pool of Jello.

Posted by: AM at March 19, 2009 12:19 PM

Monster House was not exactly a wonderment.

But I was thrilled when I walked past the credits playing in a grocery store's video rental section and heard Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Halloween".

I understand your love, Jeremy, but that'd kinda be a hailstorm.

As Bryan Ferry asked: Is your love strong enough?

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 12:24 PM

Jay, I thought you turned Sarina down?

I had to look up Strega Nona, branded. The story sounds oddly familiar - is there another tale with some similarity?

Now let's talk about what to do with the ~~manballs~~ meatballs.

Posted by: Cindy at March 19, 2009 12:37 PM

That's a risk I'm willing to take, Jay. Especially if they're those tropical skittles with all the pretty colours and tasty little flavours. Heart!

Posted by: Jeremy Feist at March 19, 2009 12:38 PM

I meant that I'd heard of people being unspeakable with pasta and she didn't believe me!

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 12:46 PM

Yeah, thats just what I would need, a bunch of meaty balls slapping into my face.

Posted by: admin at March 19, 2009 12:46 PM

Meat balls! I meant meat balls!

Posted by: admin at March 19, 2009 12:47 PM

I had to look up Strega Nona, branded. The story sounds oddly familiar - is there another tale with some similarity?

I can't think of any that are similar. Strega Nona was always a favorite of mine and should be required children's reading right alongside Harold and the Purple Crayon.

Posted by: branded at March 19, 2009 12:51 PM

Nope! I'm sorry admin, but here at pajiba there are no freudian slips.

Posted by: Pookie at March 19, 2009 1:02 PM

branded - there is some other story whereby someone is cooking and can't figure out how to stop whatever food item it is, and the food item flows into the streets. Someone, help me out here?

Regardless, Strega Nona goes on my list for the kidlets.

Posted by: Cindy at March 19, 2009 1:12 PM

Gotcha Jay.

*le sigh* I was thinking some made-by-Pajiba babies would be a lovely thing.

Posted by: Cindy at March 19, 2009 1:13 PM

Sorry, I'm just not in a commuting mood at the moment. We'll see how long that lasts. I keep getting pulled to the northern corners.

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 1:34 PM

I may be the only one with an undying fondness for that book

No, elizabeth, you are not the only one. We grew up with this one too. And when my nephew was born, my sister was clear that this was one of the books that her kid had to have.

I agree that the change from "that's just the way things were in that town," to "a scientist creating the problem" isn't sitting so well. Will they still have to sail away on giant, stale pieces of bread, start over someplace new, and learn how to make food like the rest of us?

I'm thinking you and I will simply need to boycott this and pretend it never existed, while rereading the book over an over to keep the story true in our hearts.

Posted by: tamatha at March 19, 2009 1:55 PM

*le sigh* I was thinking some made-by-Pajiba babies would be a lovely thing.

Posted by: Cindy at March
---
That reminds me, I couldn't wade through more than a couple graphs total of the insufferable SXSW reports, so can somebody give me the Cliffs Notes of who hooked up, and how many Pajibabies will be delivered for Christmas? The over is eight -- Octojiba, in honor of Godtopus. Thanks.

Also: Cindy, you're the hotness, and if I didn't already have this thing going with my ever-punctual commarade in arms, legs etc. the fabulous figgylicious figgy, I'd check out your asterisk.

Posted by: bucdaddy at March 19, 2009 2:03 PM

the insufferable SXSW reports

Not the way to win a t-shirt is all I'm saying.

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 2:06 PM

Jay, you've got to think about settling so your loins can give forth what their destinies. Pick a spot and go with it! And about that t-shirt business, remember it's the journey.

And bucdaddy, I'm ever so flattered to play lowercase letter to the capital figgy.

Posted by: Cindy at March 19, 2009 2:16 PM

Ooh yeah. I'm capitalized and indented all OVER bucdaddys body. Of text, you know.

Posted by: figgy at March 19, 2009 2:45 PM

Yeah, thats just what I would need, a bunch of meaty balls slapping into my face.

That killed me. I laughed so hard my stomach hurts.

Posted by: figgy at March 19, 2009 2:53 PM

I'm with you Tamatha. I'm also disappointed in the lack of shiny red noses in the animation. The illustrations in the book were so good, they could have used that style.

Posted by: elizabeth at March 19, 2009 4:10 PM

Ya gotta give me something to settle for, Cindy. Come on, meet me halfway.

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 6:33 PM

Do it for the delicious Pajibabies, of course! What more could you want? You don't like most food, you don't like summer and you don't want group sex. Move to Rhode Island, find a good pub and settle down.

Posted by: Cindy at March 19, 2009 10:18 PM

Hey, whaddaya mean, "most food"? Onions, artichokes, cilantro, Indian and seafood that tastes like seafood...that's not most!

Rhode Island, huh? Who's there?

Posted by: Jay at March 19, 2009 11:12 PM

Come on man, that's a lot of food! And that french fry thing with gravy the Canadians love - you don't like that either, right? Of course, it doesn't sound terribly appetizing to me either, but we're not talking about me.

Oh, I just picked RI out of a hat. I know there's a bunch of Pajibans up Boston way, and you said something about the northeast. Since RI is so small, you might like the intimacy of the state. Plus, it's suprisingly cultured and interesting around Providence.

Posted by: Cindy at March 20, 2009 10:10 AM

you don't like that either, right?

I've never gotten to have it, but I sure want it!

Posted by: Jay at March 20, 2009 10:29 AM

I must have you corn-fused with someone else who thought it was gross.

Posted by: Cindy at March 20, 2009 2:33 PM

Nothin gross bout gravy, ma'am!

Posted by: Jay at March 20, 2009 2:58 PM

I agree, with a caveat: I feel like gravy would make the fries mushy and cold rather quickly. That said, I've never tried it either.

Posted by: Cindy at March 20, 2009 3:13 PM

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Now, If They Could Just Figure Out How to Make it Rain Beer

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