Movies  •  Critics  •  About
Existimatum  >  Movies  >  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2  >  Reviews  >  St. Paul Pioneer Press

Readers of Chris Hewitt’s “Go Back for Seconds” Probably Won’t

In response to Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)’s 305‑word review of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 on St. Paul Pioneer Press 

http://www.twincities.com/movies/ci_24181351/cloudy-chance-meatballs-2-review-go-back-seconds

By ,

At 305 words long, Chris Hewitt’s “‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2’ review: Go back for seconds’” won’t pack on the calories, but it won’t leave readers feeling full, either. For a writer who opens his film review with a food reference that tries too hard and closes it with a groan-inducing pun that also tries too hard, Hewitt just doesn’t try hard enough.

One could say that Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is not the sort of topic that warrants lengthy, in-depth discussion, but any topic can be used as the springboard for a good review as long as the reviewer is skilled enough and dedicated enough to his craft. I can’t speak to Hewitt’s skill—maybe he’s an unheralded genius who’s just out of his genre—but there certainly wasn’t a lot of thought or effort that went into the creation of Go back for seconds.

Perhaps had he been given a different set of ingredients, Hewitt could have created a sumptuous feast. A good chef works with what he’s given, though, and this one-course meal of film criticism is thoroughly unsatisfying.     

Quality of Writing Quality of Argument Spoiler Avoidance Presentation