An indefatigable, forward-leaning concoction, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 breathlessly mimics the adolescent playtime, anything-goes sensibility of its predecessor, but can’t recapture the essential magic of 2009’s inventive children’s book adaptation, one of the more purely enjoyable animated films of the past five years. Directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn take over for originating helmers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who each take executive producer and story credits, and while Cloudy 2 is undeniably the product of massive collaboration (it’s even billed as “another film by a lot of people” in a pre-title card), Lord and Miller’s unifying touch and oversight are sorely missed. For the full, original review, from Screen Daily, click here. (Sony, PG, 95 minutes)
