Ratatouille

Pixar is rightly recognized as one of the premiere movie studios putting out product today. I've liked all but one of their films (didn't care for Cars), and Ratatouille continues their fine tradition. However, I don't think it deserves as much praise as it has been getting in some quarters. It's a nice film, with stunning animation, but I have some problems with it.

It is the story of Remy, who is a rat. He lives in large colony that lives in an old house in the French countryside. While his fellow rodents are happy to dine on garbage, Remy, who can read and understand human language, has gourmet tastes. He especially likes to watch the cooking show of Gusteau, the great French chef who's motto is "Anyone can cook!" Remy takes this to heart, and endeavors to pilfer fancier foods from the house. When the colony is discovered, they hightail it to the river and get washed away, and Remy is separated from them. He ends up in the kitchen of one of Paris' fancier restaurants, formerly owned by Gusteau. Gusteau has died, but his spirit serves pretty much the Jiminy Cricket role, encouraging Remy to follow his dream. He is able to do this by teaming up with a bumbling garbage boy, Linguini, who has no cooking talent but with Remy's help manages to whip up a mean ratatouille.

The message, which is elucidated by a food critic who is voiced by Peter O'Toole, that not everyone can be an artistic genius, but an artistic genius can be anyone, is noble enough. The writer and director, Brad Bird, has made some daring choices. One, a movie that will attract children about gourmet food, and two, a protagonist who is a rat, and not only a rat, but a rat that is handling food. I think kids will get the food part, but I'm not so sure about the second (well, maybe kids will be okay with rats, but it might be the adults who are squirming). Anyone who remembers the video of rats overrunning a Taco Bell won't be all sighs when they see a kitchen teeming with vermin, cartoon characters or not. Also, the film makes an abrupt change of point of view about a third of the way through, when Remy's story becomes Linguini's (Remy can understand human language, but can't speak it, at least to humans).

The film is also not particularly funny. There's lots of slapstick, but nothing to write home about. Of course, in this age of technology and an unlimited budget, the animation is sterling. Just looking at the detail that goes into the pots and pans and utensils is breathtaking.

Ratatouille is on the second level of Pixar's output, below Toy Story II and The Incredibles, about on a par with the first Toy Story and Finding Nemo. And that ain't bad.