Flint Lockwood lives in the town of Swallow Falls and is a would-be inventor. However, his inventions always go wrong. His first invention, a pair of spray-on shoes, seemed like a good idea until Flint realised that he could not get them off! Flints father, Tim, owns a sardine fishing tackle shop. Thruout Flint's teenage years, he keeps inventing, but with always bad results. One day Flint invents a machine that produces food from water. It works with terrible consequences.