Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

A wacky scientist (voice by Bill Hader) invents a machine that turns water into food—then he accidentally seeds the clouds with it, and suddenly it’s raining cheeseburgers, spaghetti, ice cream and Jell-O. At first the novelty delights the townspeople, but things quickly get out of hand. Writer-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller adapt the children’s book by Judi and Ron Barrett—or rather, they take the title and the basic idea as a springboard for something entirely their own. It makes for enjoyable kid stuff, with riotously colorful and visually witty animation (and, in selected theaters, impish 3-D effects) and solid voice work (Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Mr. T, Benjamin Bratt, Al Roker). The movie overstays its welcome a bit toward the end, but not enough to spoil the fun.