Flint Lockwood, a young inventor spends his days in a laboratory, building strange creations. Regarded as a troublemaker and a nuisance by the residents of the small town of Swallow Falls, Flint dreams of one day making something that will win their respect and earn him a place alongside the Edisons and Da Vincis of the world.
Flint thinks his latest invention, a machine that turns ordinary water into gourmet meals just might do the trick. But his big unveiling goes predictably awry when his machine launches like a rocket through Swallow Falls, laying waste to the town square before eventually disappearing into the stratosphere.
Just when it appears that the townsfolk have finally had enough of Flint’s antics, salvation arrives in the form of cheeseburgers raining from the sky, thrilling the throngs of hungry people below. Success! Flint’s machine actually works — albeit not quite in the manner he originally intended.