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Working from a beloved 1978 children's book by Judi and Ron Barrett that had virtually no plot, 2009's "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" was a pleasant surprise for kids and parents. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller not only assembled one of the most likable voice casts of that year but cleverly worked relatable themes of personal expression, parental acceptance, and even a sweet romance into a tale in which cheeseburgers fall from the sky and gummy bears can be deadly.
Returning to Swallow Falls in the inevitable sequel (not at all based on the Barrett's literary follow-up, "Pickles to Pittsburgh"), the creators of "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" retain enough of the imaginative energy of their predecessor to keep little ones engaged but they fall victim to the common trap of animated sequels, believing that the driving creative principle has to be more, More, MORE. The food doesn't just fall from the sky this time, it moves, breathes, and develops its own ecosystem. The result is a film in which the environment, the "Foodimals," end up more interesting than the characters or story.