It’s hard to believe four years have passed since the original animated adaptation of Ron and Judi Barrett’s children’s book about food falling like rain.

One man’s greatest invention the Flint Lockwood Diatonic Super Mutating Dynamic Food Replicator (or FLDSMDFR for short) had somehow turned water into food.

With food-animal hybrids called ‘foodimals’ now on the loose, Swallow Falls island is said to be in Jurassic Park-style danger unless the Live Corp Company can harness technology for the betterment of mankind.

So boss Chester V (Will Forte) sends Flint (Bill Hader) into a world of buffaloafs, bananostriches, shrimpanzees, hippotatoes and double bacon cheese spiders.

Will these funny creatures be deadly, friendly or just mighty tasty?

Flint reunites with girlfriend-meteorologist Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), her cameraman Manny, cop Earl Devereaux and “Chicken” Brent.

But, while Flint might yet learn to fish with dad Tim (James Caan) in his fishing boat, can he trust Chester?

I’ve seen Meatballs in both 2D and 3D and both are so scatterbrained there’s nothing missing in the “flat” version.

Since neither format makes this better than the superior original film, go for the cheaper, brighter 2D version, especially as having Paul McCartney singing on the soundtrack of something so colourfully psychedelic makes for a better gimmick for adults than 3D.

The script is brimming with knowing puns, some of the technical terms, though, are so incomprehensible it’s an effort to stay with the verbal inanity.

Children will enjoy this Sony Pictures Animation, but grandparents offering half-term treats might prefer the more simple thrills of a snail speed racer called Turbo instead.

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