Except for the Beavers in Chronicles Of Narnia, there are only two rodent movies that are worth watching, in my opinion: Mouse Hunt and this one. But this far surpasses the former on every level, as well as every other animated film, and even most other children's films, for a number of reasons.

First, the animation is phenomenal. The handling of elements such as water and fire, complicated camera movements through complex sets, naturalistic movements like the turning of the pages in a book, and most of all the people: they no longer look like rubber dolls as they did in Toy Story, and even as late as The Incredibles.

Second, this film is a wonderful expose for kids on the art of cooking and the world of restaurants. Culinary details are so interwoven with the story that the viewer finds himself in a master class on cooking, and loving it. I'm glad that the dish ratatouille actually figured into the plot and wasn't just a play on words for the title. I also like the theme, "Anyone can cook," which was the title of Master Chef Gusteau's famous book that inspired the rat, Remy, to want to be a chef himself.

Third, there are strong moral lessons throughout: against stealing, on the importance of family and friendship, that people can change, that commitments should be honored, etc. Pixar's films always have had strong moral and redemptive themes; but this is perhaps the most effective. Gusteau, who dies and then becomes a figment of Remy's imagination, is constantly telling him to resist his natural rat tendency to steal food and, instead, to be an artist of food by becoming a cook.

Fourth, the level of storytelling and humor in this film out ranks most comedies, and certainly most animated films. Just the contrasts alone are masterful. I mean, the very idea of a gourmet rat is oxymoronic. And featuring one in the kitchen of a fine Paris restaurant is naturally repulsive. So, for him to be a gourmet cook in that restaurant is genius. Patton Oswalt plays Remy the rat.

Then there's the short sous chef who becomes the chef when Gusteau dies. He is supposed to be the second most threatening character in the film; but he's so short, he has to stand on a step ladder to get to the stove. Director Brad Bird likes short villains - again, in contrast to what would be expected. (Recall Syndrome from The Incredibles.)

The most intimidating character, though, is Anton Ego: the foremost food critic in Paris, the one responsible for Gusteau's losing its status as a five-star restaurant, and, personality-wise, death warmed over - he even has an office with a floor plan shaped like a coffin. Peter O'Toole does the honors.

Linguini, a young kitchen waif that befriends Remy, and whom the rat helps to become a cook, is played by Lou Romano. Janeane Garofalo, as Colette, plays the love interest to Linguini, and the only woman in the kitchen.

The best scene in the film is when the rats, trying to help Linguini save the restaurant, take over the kitchen. When I watched it in a theatre, the audience exploded with laughter. The weakest scene may be when Anton Ego, the critic, reads his review of Gusteau's restaurant in voice-over. This part lost the kids, who basically talked through most of it. This could have been left out, I think, without hurting the film; although it is important to note that Ego changes into a better person because of his experience.

Ratatouille is an exceptional film by director Brad Bird, who also wrote the screenplay from his own story. Previous films include The Incredibles (for which he won the Oscar, three Annie Awards and a BAFTA) and The Iron Giant (for which he won two Annies and a BAFTA). There is also a wonderful short preceding Ratatouille called "Lifted," which is a take off on Spielberg's Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. It is hillarious.



Waitsel Smith, July 1, 2007

Text © 2007 Waitsel Smith. Image © 2006 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.