Ratatouille: Movie Review

[3113]

Ratatouille, the latest computer animated film by Disney/Pixar, is getting rave reviews and I think it deserves them. It's charming, warm, funny, enjoyable and clever. One of those movies that leaves you feeling really good as you walk out of the theater.

The basic story and message are not all that outré: follow your bliss and be who you are, but the journey taken to this conclusion is so much more fun than most of the other, recent animated films. That's thanks to Brad Bird, who took over the script and its direction and never rushes things. He offers up an introduction (appetizers and soup as it were) so you get a real connection and feeling for the main rat character, Remy and his passion for food. Even when the movie gets to the meat of the story--the restaurant and its drama--it still allows itself to take quick and witty detours: tips of the hat to old French movies and silent films, rollercoaster rides down sewer pipes and under kitchen stoves. All of which makes a fairly short movie very rich and layered.

Most essentially, the film is true to its message and makes some bold moves, in particular by making the rats *rats* not cuddily toys. When they swarm, they swarm. I like that about Brad Bird as well, that he never tip-toes around things or tries to play it safe--and his bets pay off.

It's a really marvelous little film; a lot of heart and soul. And how could we writers not connect with someone who has a passion and wants to express it? I really loved it and it's one of the few summer movies I'll probably see again.

 

[Guest]

Thank you for this!

We're really looking forward to seeing it. I'm glad to hear it's quality!

 

[BlackShanglan]

The SO and I went last night and loved it. Highly recommended!

 

[English Lady]

I really want to see this! I saw an advert in the cinema aaaaggges ago and have been looking forward ot it since.

 

[tickledkitty]

Thanks for the review. Took my daughter to see it yesterday, but we ended up seeing Shrek the Third instead, which was really very good. We'll hit Ratatouille next time.

 

[NoJo]

Really looking forward to it.

By the way the DreamWorks/Aardman film "Flushed Away", also based on "uncuddly" rats, was pretty good too.

The underground comic book artists of the early 70s were fond of using rats as hero characters, because they thought that rats had had a raw deal in the comic world till then. I guess the first animated movie which caught up with the Underground comic mentality was The Brave Little Toaster (unless you count the disastrous Fritz The Cat movie). But thank goodness, now there are a ton of really smart and witty cartoon movies. They're pretty much all I watch these days.

 

[3113]

Well, the movie is good enough that my husband and I were still discussing it this morning--the things we liked and noticed. In connection with Brad Bird's other films, we notice that he likes to write stories about "monsters" or rather those that could be thought of as monsters: Iron Giants, Super-powered folk and Rats. Potential "monsters" who go against expectations and surprise us.

This movie really has that very interesting subtext that you never know where salvation can be found, who the real inheritors of a talent might be and that it's a good idea to try and see past prejudices because sometimes the answers you're looking for are on the other side of that bias.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

I'll probably be checking this out tomorrow. Pixar has put out nothing but quality and originality...and I've been waiting for this joint since seeing the previews during last year's "Cars."

 

[BlackShanglan]

This movie really has that very interesting subtext that you never know where salvation can be found, who the real inheritors of a talent might be and that it's a good idea to try and see past prejudices because sometimes the answers you're looking for are on the other side of that bias.

Yes, and I also liked the fact that they moved away from the usual syrupy "anyone can do anything!" message and modulated it in interesting and, I thought, considerably more intelligent ways.

 

[S-Des]

Well, the movie is good enough that my husband and I were still discussing it this morning--the things we liked and noticed. In connection with Brad Bird's other films, we notice that he likes to write stories about "monsters" or rather those that could be thought of as monsters: Iron Giants, Super-powered folk and Rats. Potential "monsters" who go against expectations and surprise us.

This movie really has that very interesting subtext that you never know where salvation can be found, who the real inheritors of a talent might be and that it's a good idea to try and see past prejudices because sometimes the answers you're looking for are on the other side of that bias.

This is the highest rated movie of the year on RottenTomatos (although at 95% thumbs up, it's well short of Bird's wonderful 'Iron Giant', which was almost perfect with the critics). There were three idiots who voted it down, all of whom seemed to be mugging for attention. One of them gave Billy Madison a thumbs up.

I'll wait to see it until I've got my daughter, but I am looking forward to it. At the moment, I'm in Trom-land, waiting for Transformers. It's at 88% thumbs up (absolutely unheard of in this genre) and I'm letting myself get psyched for a movie I can enjoy on a completely immature level.

 

[likesmbig]

3113, your review is right on the money. I would add that the animation was astounding, so much so that at times the food looked real. Just when you think this technology can't get any better they ratchet it up another notch or two.

But the story really was superb. I'm not one who automatically likes every Pixar film--I didn't care for The Incredibles at all, and Cars was just ok. But this was really enjoyable, and I want to see it again.

The French accents by Sir Ian Holm and Jeanine Garofalo seemed amazingly good too. How do they do that?

 

[herecomestherain]

I heard the head of Pixar Uni speaking on the radio here in Oz the other day, there's a big Pixar exhibition on at the moment. She spoke so fondly and with such enthusiasm for this new film that I can't wait to see it, but wait we must, until October! Thanks for the review!

 

[raphy]

I heard the head of Pixar Uni speaking on the radio here in Oz the other day, there's a big Pixar exhibition on at the moment. She spoke so fondly and with such enthusiasm for this new film that I can't wait to see it, but wait we must, until October! Thanks for the review!

Pixar can do no wrong.

 

[buxxxom]

Took my children to see Ratatouille last night. They loved it. Had I never worked in a professional kitchen, I might have loved it too. I fear I may be the only person in America to not like that film.