CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 -- Now Available on 3D Blu-ray & Blu-ray Combo packs, DVD and Digital (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a screener copy by the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

“Delicious family fun.  The animation and 3-D effects are simply stunning.”  – Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

“A charming, clever comedy for the whole family.” – Scott Mantz, Access Hollywood

“4 out of 5 stars” – Jordan Hoffman, New York Daily News

A Fun-Filled, Food-Fight Adventure for the Whole Family

Buy now on DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack from Amazon for only $22.98.

The $100 Million+ Box Office & Critically Acclaimed Hit Debuted Jan. 28

on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD & Digital*

Stuffed with More Than an Hour of Mouth-Watering Special Features Including Four Mini-Movies

"Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) and the Swallow Falls gang are back with another helping of adventure in Sony Pictures Animation’s CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2, now available on Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD* from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Inventor Flint Lockwood thought he saved the world when he destroyed his most infamous invention -- a machine that turned water into food, causing edible weather like cheeseburger rain and spaghetti tornadoes. However, he soon learns that his invention survived and is now creating food-animals, or "foodimals!"  Now, Flint and his friends must embark on a dangerously delicious mission to battle hungry tacodiles, shrimpanzees, hippotatomuses, cheespiders and other foodimals to save the world once more.

Fans hungry for more can indulge in a host of bonus materials on the CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2 3D Blu-ray and Blu-ray Combo Packs, including four mini-movies directed by animation veteran David Feiss. The first all-new mini-movie, “Attack of the 50-Foot Gummi Bear,” finds Steve chasing a mischievous gummi that misused one of Flint’s inventions to grow into a 50-foot beast. In the second never-before-seen mini-movie, “Steve’s First Bath,” Flint must quickly alter his plans for a romantic date with Sam after his monkey-cleaning invention goes awry. Both Combo Packs come with two additional previously released mini-movies, “Super Manny” and “Earl Scouts,” along with strawberry-scented scratch ‘n sniff packaging. 

The Combo Packs and DVD are also stuffed with filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes and seven behind-the-scenes featurettes, including candid interviews with the animators and voice talent, and a look at the stunning end credits and all-new, making-of-the-music video from fan-favorite Cody Simpson.

*Includes Digital HD UltraViolet™

3D Blu-ray & Blu-ray Combo Pack exclusives include:

• Four Mini-Movies*
• “Attack of the 50-Foot Gummi Bear” – Flint’s mischievous gummi bear grows to 50-feet by using his new food-modifying invention while Steve is in charge. Steve must frantically chase the gummi bear and transform him back to normal size before Flint returns to the lab.  
• “Steve’s First Bath” - Flint’s failed date with Sam is because of Steve’s mischievous ways.
• “Super Manny” - Manny, the Jack of all trades, saves an adorable kitty with his many skills.
• “Earl Scouts” – The Foodimals join Earl's scouting program but are very competitive.
• Deleted Scenes

3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD bonus features include:

• Filmmaker Commentary with directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn
• Seven All-New Featurettes:
• “Anatomy of a Foodimal” - Flamangos, Cheesespiders, Hippotatomuses! Oh my! Sit down with filmmakers to discuss the inspiration behind these wacky food-animal hybrids that have taken over Swallow Falls, and chat with the gang to find out how they came up with the Food-imal's creative and amusing names.
• “Production Design: Back in the Kitchen” - Where do you go after it rains cheeseburgers all over Swallow Falls? Back to the kitchen of course! Hear from filmmakers Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn on how they came up with stories and jokes for the film.
• “Awesome End Credits” - Dive into the end credit sequence with the filmmakers and discover how they used a mix of 3D, 2D, stop motion and live action.
• “Cloudy Café: Who’s On the Menu?” – Hear from newcomers Will Forte and Kristen Schaal about what drew them (pun intended) to this animated feature and how they "discovered" the voices of Chester V and Barb. Then, sit down with Terry Crews, as he steps into the pair of size 12 shoes left by Mr. T to portray Officer Earl Devereaux. Plus, hear from all your returning favorites including Anna Ferris and Bill Hader.
• “Building the Foodimals” - Animators discuss creating and animating the foodimals.
• “The Sasquash “- Exploring all the places in the film that the sneaky Sasquash is hiding.
• “Delicious Production Design” - Animators discuss the design of the film
• Cody Simpson “La Da Dee” Music Video & Making of the video featurette

*Attack of the 50-Foot Gummi Bear and Steve’s First Bath are all-new mini-movies

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS 2  has a running time of approximately 95 minutes and  is rated PG for mild rude humor.

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My Thoughts:

Did you see the first "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" movie?  Being a family who loves animated movies, I was surprised to find that we hadn't seen it.  Every time we would see it on the shelf at the stores my husband and I would question each other about having seen it.  And, call it Mommy and Daddy brain, but we would always tell each other, "Yes, we have seen it a few times."  But, we never did!  That was until this past Friday when we had a double feature with this and the new sequel, which recently released on DVD and Blu-ray on Jan. 28th.  Did you pick up a copy? If not, you are missing out, as the sequel is even better than the first!

When it comes to sequels, I find that many fall short on the plot, so I was not expecting much with "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2."  I don't like to get myself excited about sequels, that way I don't get disappointed if it is a flop.  But, as soon as this movie started, the laughs came and kept coming throughout the whole film. And, with some of my favorite actors lending their voices to the characters like, Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Faris, Will Forte and Bill Hader, it makes for a great movie that even adults will love sitting and watching with the kids.

I don't know if I would ever wish for food to fall from the sky like inventor Flint Lockwood did when he created a machine back in the first "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" movie.  But, when things got out of control, he had to destroy his invention...or, so he thought.  The sequel picks up where the first movie left of, so it was good that we had watched the first movie before seeing this.  But, if you haven't seen the first, don't worry, as you will still enjoy this sequel, as many of us have read the classic storybook by the same name as a child, or to our children.

Flint's invention was never destroyed, and has since turned into a machine that combines both food and animals to turn out "foodimals."  Eek!  It is up to Flint and his friends to save the world and destroy his invention once and for all.  Like I said, this new release is full of laughs, that will have both kids and adults laughing along.  And, the story is easy to understand and follow, which is great for little ones to watch and enjoy.

Overall, I have to say that I loved this sequel, and was so happy to have finally been able to watch the first movie.  Pairing it with the sequel really made for a fun family movie night.  This week, we plan to watch the bonus features after dinner.  And, I am guessing that the girls will be asking to watch the movie again, as they can't stop talking about it since watching it on Friday.

So, if you are looking for a great family-friendly movie to share with your family, or were fans of the first "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," you will definitely want to check out this new release.  It will have you in stitches, as you root on Flint and his friends, to find and destroy his invention that is causing havoc on the world.  Will they be successful?  You will have to pick up a copy of this movie to find out.

And, if the movie wasn't enough, be on the look out for the fun lunchbox and movie combo pack available in stores.  Along with the movie, the kind folks at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment also sent the girls the collector's edition lunch box and a plush strawberry, which put a smile on the girls' faces.  

Arabella filled the lunchbox with all her trinkets, and has been carrying around the lunchbox wherever we go.  :-)

Disclosure: I was sent a screener copy by the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.