”Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is a visual smorgasbord and a delicious story… available in 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D… you’ll enjoy it no matter what format you see it in.

This movie is fun for kids AND adults.. a nice combination of fun and good storytelling.
 ( My spoiler-free review)

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” has a good story, with sharp writing, a great fantasy atmosphere and is full of fun characters.

Flint Lockwood is interesting, but the supporting characters like the monkey “Steve”, Police Officer Earl Devereaux, and Sam Sparks, the tv weather girl.

This is a good use of the new 3D technology.. the screening I saw this movie in was 3D… but that is not what makes this a movie I would recommend to you.

Its fun for its target audience: kids and the parents that go with them.  The movie is full of jokes and references that adults can enjoy (Atari, Simon, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and a Death Star-like meatball).

There are plenty of little moments to appreciate, like kids in the town making face-first snowangels when it rains ice cream… there’s also a well conceived spaghetti tornado that wreaks havoc on the town.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

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Remember Eddie Murphy in “48 Hours” (1982) and “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)?   This movie is not like those movies.

Remember Eddie Murphy in “Meet Dave” (2008) and “Pluto Nash” (2002)?  Luckily, this movie is better than those movies.

In “Imagine That”, Murphy dials it down a little bit and shines in a funny father role Bill Cosby would be proud of… a touch that makes this one of his best movies in years.   I know that’s not saying much, but while Murphy had busts like “Vampire in Brookyln” (1995), “Meet Dave” (2008) and “Pluto Nash” (2002)… Cosby had bummers like ”The Meteor Man” (1993) and “Leonard Part 6″ (1987)…. but The Cos’ career is also stronger with several very succesful TV shows (“The Cosby Show”, “Fat Albert”, “I Spy”).

Eddie is still Eddie here, but just not as much of the caricature he was becoming of himself in those recent movies that neither did well at the box office or with movie fans.  Murphy is convincing and believable as the busy working dad who doesn’t have the time or patience for his young daughter.

His 7-year-old co-star, Yara Shahidi is a treat!   She grabs the scene and doesn’t let go at daughter Olivia.. she has the presence and delivery of someone twice her age… this is one of the best child perfomances of the year so far.

This movie works through a lot of parallels from beginning to end with the security blanket and the child-parent dynamics, but I’m not going to spoil it fo you, so I’ll leave it at that.

The story is good, but slightly predictable, and but the supporting cast really help develop the movie’s colorful cast of unique characters.   Thomas Haden Church (one of my favorite character actors dating back to “Wings” 1990-95 and “Tombstone” (1993)) as Murphy’s rival and Martin Sheen (too many great roles to name) as Murphy’s career idol.   The supporting child actors are also great, despite their one scene: Bobb’e J. Thompson ( “Role Models” (2008)) as a kid at the playland and Daniel Polo as the son of Thomas Haden Church.

As you might expect there’s some family-friendly language and eloquent use of the word “poop”, like this soon-to-be classic line: “poopoo doodoo stinky caca”.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

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“Role Models” is funny, dirty, and charming all at the same time… this was a fun “R” rated comedy… imagine an older Steve Stifler (“American Pie”) and an unmarried Pete (“Knocked Up”) then mix in two great young actors and a bunch of low-brow but funny jokes and gags with a nice, albeit predictable storyline… and you get your money’s worth (at least for a matinee)…

AGAIN, I HATE TO HAVE TO SAY THIS, BUT THIS MOVIE HAS AN “R” RATING… while this was not as potentially offensive as “Zack and Miri”, it should be noted that I continue to see young kids (under 10) at these movies…. don’t say I haven’t tried to warn you….

“Role Models”

(2008) (rated: R for crude and sexual content, strong language and nudity) (1 hr, 39 min)

Starring: Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Elizabeth Banks, Jane Lynch

Genre: Comedy/Raunchy-Comedy

The Plot: Wild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program.

MY TAKE:

Okay, its nice to get back to the funny and less offensive “R” rated comedies… (more…)