Aspiring inventor Flint Lockwood set off a deliciously epic food storm in Sony Picture Animation's film adaptation of the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. At the end of the original film, Flint saves the world by destroying his infamous machine that turned water into food. It's happily ever after for Flint and meteorologist Sam Sparks… or is it?  

When sentient food, created by Flint's FLDSMDFR (the Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator), threatens to destroy their world, it will be up to Flint and his friends to prevent a complete foodimal invasion.  

 

With the film slated to open in theaters this week, here are five reasons your family will love this tasty sequel!

 

 

1. Kids have license to play with their food

Flint's water-made foodimals (food-animal hybrids) are capturing the hearts of young children across the country. We meet these voracious beings when Flint goes back to the island to find and destroy the FLDSMDFR. According to codirector Kris Pearn, the criteria for inclusion in the film was that "no matter what the food was doing, it was delicious." While we may not want to get tangled up in  the Cheespider's cheesy webs, we'd like to give Berry a big squeeze (just not too tightly).

 

2. Puntastic humor

One of the main draws of the original film was its laugh-out-loud one-liners. The sequel draws on the sentient food being created by Flint's water-turned-food machine, and the play on words which characterize each foodimal. According to codirector Cody Cameron, they "wanted a good mix of an animal and a food that not only [gave] you a great design but a cringe-worthy pun."  

 

3. A visually rich, immersive world

Flint's creativity is reflected in both the foodimals his machine is creating and the ecosystem that has evolved as a result of this new food-animal species. According to Pearn, the island is "like Flint's head is cracked open and his creativity has spilled out everywhere." Inspiration for this world includes renowned predecessors like Jurassic Park, yet the filmmakers never directly pointed at another film. 

 

4. Relatable characters we'd like our kids to emulate 

Flint is creative and persistent… a dreamer. Sam is smart, determined and incredibly loyal. In this second film, each of the characters' personalities are more fully developed, and we see them rise above their internal and interpersonal conflicts in positive ways. "On this adventure, all of the characters get to express themselves more fully," said Pearn. 

 

5. A heartwarming story that redefines the heroes we look up to

For an aspiring inventor who's spent his entire life hoping his creativity will better mankind, receiving recognition from one of the greatest inventors of all time is a dream come true. But as the film progresses, Flint learns that sometimes, meeting your hero can be disappointing and complicated. Very often, the people that closest to you, that love and support you, are the true heroes in your life.

 

Now, watch our family blogger's interview with Anna Faris and Bill Hader: