Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, the overlooked animated film of the fall, is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD, and it is currently the best new movie available to own this year. A funny, imaginative and entertaining film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is a movie the entire family will enjoy.

Based on the book by Ron and Judi Barrett, the movie is about a struggling inventor who has grown up under the disapproving eye of his father and neighbors. His inventions have always ended in disaster and destruction... Until he invents a machine that, after shooting into the stratosphere, turns rain into any food of his choosing. Overnight, tasty treats of all variety and sizes are raining down on the elated townspeople, and he is their new hero. Well, that is until the food starts getting larger and larger, threatening to wipe out the entire town. Accompanied by a nerdy weather reporter from the mainland, the inventor sets out to destroy his machine and save his friends and family from an untimely, albeit tasty demise.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs comes from Sony Pictures Animation, a studio that so far has ranked a distant third in the animated film studio race. If this movie is any indication, however, Sony is gaining ground. The premise alone is more original than most animated movies and prime for movie material, but the screenplay by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller bring the film to life. Well written and funny, the movie is as easy to watch for adults as it is mindless fun for the children.

The voice cast, led by Bill Hader and Anna Faris (with James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell and Mr. T, among others), does a fine job supporting their characters. The two make a surprisingly likable pair and as awkward as their relationship is, they have great chemistry together. Whether that says something about their acting or the rest of the production, who knows, but Meatballs is an all-around enjoyable movie.

The animation isn't up to par with other big animated films, but that's OK. The visual effects still work well for the source material.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs isn't without its flaws, and it isn't as good as some of the big movies from Pixar and DreamWorks, but it's still an entertaining comedy and one of the year's best.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.