Ratatouille: Review

A gem coming out of the studios of Pixar is about as regular as the sun setting. With each passing year, Pixar releases yet another stunner. Even when the film doesn't receive the massive praise as every other entry into their filmography, such as last year's Cars, it is still warmly received and absolutely kills at the box office. Thus, when Ratatouille came into theatres this summer, Hollywood chalked it down as another success before its first screening. Needless to say, the powers that be are/were right as Ratatouille is a fine film, a crowd pleaser that should appeal to children and adults alike.

Brad Bird returns to direct his second feature at Pixar, following up the studio's crowning achievement The Incredibles, with a story about Remy, a rat who gets separated from his family and winds up in Paris. Luckily for our fearless protagonist, Remy has a refined sense of smell and taste and he makes the best of being in one of the greatest food cities in the world. Before long, he winds up in the kitchen of Gusteau's, the restaurant of his idol and favorite chef, who unfortunately has passed away. Through a series of wild chases, he falls into hands of Linguini, the busboy of the kitchen, who is enlisted to kill the rat after Remy is caught by the evil(ish) Skinner, the chef who now runs Gusteau's following the death of its namesake. Luckily for Remy, Linguini takes a liking to him and the two begin to craft a mutually beneficial friendship that will allow Remy to live and Linguini to cook.


Bird has become the greatest craftsman of animation in America today and Ratatouille is a welcome addition to his growing repertoire of both bona fide and near classics. His films are painstakingly created and directed, with even moments of quiet conversation receiving the same care as the larger scale action-oriented sequences. Best of all, he is a consummate storyteller, an artist who understands the power of having a good, engaging story behind all the flash and pizzazz of the computer animation. Ratatouille is filled to the brim with memorable characters, all of which receive their due time and as a result, the ensemble cast bursts from the screen with vitality and humor. It is easy to forget that Bird is responsible for the acting jobs of both the voice actors as well as the animated characters and all are excellent.

Patton Oswald, who provides the voice for Remy, is wonderful as the central character. It may seem easy but imbuing a creature like a rat with human like qualities is more difficult than one may think, given the harsh biases people hold against rodents. Remy, is never overly cute or cuddly but is never a disgusting rat even though it is made clear through the movie that his species is not the most clean of the animal kingdom. The disgusting nature of rats are played for some of the best laughs in the film. The extremely clever screenplay (penned by Bird) is a wonderfully realized examination of friendship and much like the classics of Disney's golden era, never panders to the lowest denominator, including something for everyone.


Unlike The Incredibles which featured a literal perfect pacing Ratatouille slows at time and at a hour and fifty minutes, it may feel long for some children. However, there is enough here to warrant the running time. If nothing else, the film's visuals are jaw-dropping in their completeness, rendering even the smallest bit of texture with a minute sense of detail. In fact, by year's end, this may be one of the best visual films 2007 saw, a feast for the eyes filled with rich colors and breathtaking details. If there is a better looking complete group of films than Pixar's output, I haven't found them.

While this may be a small downgrade from The Incredibles, it is ever so slight and serves to confirm that we are once again living in a golden age of animation being spearheaded by Pixar's continued innovation. I can not stress strongly enough that this is a film for everyone, not just children or animation nuts. In fact, there is a monologue late in the film that will undoubtedly touch the hearts and minds of every type of critic in this country and for my money, stands as one of best simplifications of the motivations behind criticism that I've ever heard. With Ratatouille, Bird has crafted yet another stunner, one that will hopefully elevate him into the upper ranks of directors working today. Note that I did not say animation directors, but directors period. His work is that good, is that mature, is that innovate that it deserves, nay, demands viewing. Not to be missed.

****