By Greg Vellante
Correspondent

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is the quintessential children’s movie. Here is an animated gem so zany, so colorful and so over-the-top that it will actually manage to maintain its young audience’s attention throughout — and with ease.

This is unquestionably a movie made for the fast-paced, ADD generation of young moviegoers. It works flawlessly. Furthermore, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” knows that we’re all young at heart, and it effortlessly had me giggling like a 5-year-old. Other viewers are certain to succumb, as well.
It’s hard not to fall victim to this film’s affably infectious charm. Bill Hader voices Flint Lockwood, an enthusiastic inventor who only dreams of making his father (voiced by James Caan) proud.

When his new machine causes a disastrous disturbance in his small town, he is shunned like a hopeless pariah; that is until that same machine reacts with the clouds in the sky and transforms all the rain into, delicious food (a rare treat for a town that’s main source of sustenance is sardines).

Flint becomes instantly famous, and gains immediate approval from the mayor (Bruce Campbell). This takes the spotlight away from the town’s previous celebrity, Baby Brent, a now adult, overweight annoyance (voiced by Andy Samburg).

With his new status, Flint seeks to get the girl: a cute, intelligent, and all-around perfect girl named Sam Sparks (adorably put to life by the lovely voice of Anna Faris). But as soon as things start looking up, the reality of what is “coming down” begins to surface. The food starts mutating into larger sizes. Minor damage becomes full-fledged destruction, and many of the town’s occupants begin to gain some noticeable girth (especially the mayor).

When Flint’s invention turns, so does his beloved fame, leaving him to save the day from the threat of spaghetti tornadoes, rolling meatballs of death, and an avalanche of leftovers.

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” is pure fantasy, told in a fashion meant to teach its audience true life lessons along with the sugar-coated fun. From the exploration of father and son relationships, to the importance of being true to your own individuality, and even the significance of a healthy diet, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” isn’t mere entertainment. It’s a lesson in disguise.

And while, depending on age, children may not pick up on many of the film’s lessons, parents most certainly will, leaving room for discussion during the car ride home.

And parents themselves may actually learn a thing or two. Personally, I felt the relationship between Flint and his father was surprisingly authentic for such an artificial movie. Audiences will too, while at the same time laughing hysterically and wondering what would happen if it ever really rained food.