Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2009

82%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A nerdy inventor makes it rain cheeseburgers—what could go wrong? Spoiler: giant food chaos, but make it wholesome.

6.9/10

85%

6.7

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Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs

movie

PG, 2009

82%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A nerdy inventor makes it rain cheeseburgers—what could go wrong? Spoiler: giant food chaos, but make it wholesome.

6.9

85%

6.7

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6.9/10

85%

6.7

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a solid, genuinely entertaining family film that holds up well 15+ years later. The premise is bananas (or rather, meatballs), the animation is vibrant, and the humor works for both kids and adults.

What makes it WISE-worthy: it celebrates the nerdy inventor kid, models perseverance and problem-solving, and has real emotional depth in the father-son relationship. The environmental/consequence themes (what happens when we overconsume?) are subtle but present.

It's energetic without being brain-melting, imaginative without being incomprehensible, and safe without being saccharine. A rare animated film that's both fun AND has something to say about responsibility and innovation. Plus, the food puns are chef's kiss.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-12. Younger kids will love the food silliness and bright visuals; older elementary kids will appreciate the invention themes and humor. Teens might find it a bit young unless they're nostalgic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Celebrates curiosity, perseverance, and community cooperation. Father-son relationship is central and emotionally grounded. Some mild cartoon peril and food-based chaos, but tone remains upbeat and kind. Models accepting differences (the 'nerd' protagonist becomes a hero). Pacing is energetic but not overwhelmingly chaotic for the target age.

Imaginative

Wildly creative premise—weather that rains food—executed with visual inventiveness and humor. Celebrates scientific curiosity and invention. The protagonist is a tinkerer and problem-solver, modeling creative thinking. Vibrant animation style with absurdist comedy that sparks imagination. Based on a beloved picture book but expands it into something fresh.

Safe

Solidly family-friendly with a likely PG rating. Cartoon action/peril (giant food falling, some mild destruction) but no real violence, gore, or scary content. No inappropriate language, sexual content, or genuinely frightening moments. The chaos is food-based slapstick. Predictable and safe for the target demographic with no surprise disturbing content.

Enriching

Encourages STEM curiosity and celebrates the scientific method (trial, error, perseverance). Themes of accepting yourself, standing up to bullies, and thinking critically about consequences (over-consumption, environmental impact of the food machine). Father-son reconciliation adds emotional depth. Entertaining first, educational second—solidly fun with some meaningful takeaways about responsibility and innovation.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Celebrates STEM, curiosity, and the 'weird kid' becoming the hero—great for budding inventors and misfits
Absurdist humor and visual creativity that appeals to kids and parents alike (who doesn't want to see a spaghetti tornado?)
Father-son relationship with real emotional stakes and reconciliation
Themes of responsibility, consequences, and thinking critically about innovation's impact
Holds up well—animation style is still engaging and humor hasn't aged badly

⚠

What to Watch For

Energetic pacing and food-based chaos might be overstimulating for very sensitive younger kids
Some mild cartoon peril (giant food falling, destruction) but nothing genuinely scary
The 'nerd gets the girl' trope is present but handled reasonably well for 2009

Conversation Starters

"If you could make it rain any food, what would you pick? What problems might that cause?"
"Flint's dad didn't understand his inventions at first. Have you ever felt like someone didn't get what you were excited about?"
"The town got carried away eating all that free food. When is 'more' not always better?"
"What's the coolest thing you'd want to invent? What would you need to think about to make sure it's safe?"

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