Ratatouille is another movie I love about someone being uncomfortable in their own skin. Someone feeling like the world they were born into isn’t the right one for them and they don’t know what to do. So is the case with our lead character, Remy the rat. He’s a rat and yet all he wants to do is be a chef. Actually at the entrance his goals are much more modest- he just doesn’t want to eat garbage any more. Who can blame him for that? (And they do explain why he walks on 2 feet instead of 4 which was very clever design-wise for the character).
We learn early on that Remy loves a chef named Gusteau who runs a popular eatery in Paris and has a cookbook called “Anyone Can Cook”. Remy is such a fan of Gusteau he has learned how to read and lives a mystery life in an old ladies kitchen. It is clear Gusteau is not just a chef to Remy but a mentor. Someone who believes anyone and in Remy’s case anything can cook which is Remy’s dream.
Through various contrivances Remy gets separated from his family and makes it through the sewers of Paris (amazing water sequence through the rapids of the sewers). He begins talking to Gusteau who is a ‘figment of [his] imagination”. I love when Remy says ‘you are dead’. Gusteau says ‘that is no match for wishful thinking!”(such great witty writing in this movie!).
There is Skinner who is running Gusteau’s restaurant and hopes to use his name on microwavable meals that have nothing to do with French food.
I love this so much:
” In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends.”
Think if everyone on youtube that does nothing but tear things down understood what Ego is talking about? To be an advocate for ‘the new’ is such a privilege and is what makes all this writing and watching worthwhile. When you see what is special when sometimes nobody else does and you champion it- there’s nothing like that feeling! It gives hope for both the creator and critic that greatness is always around the corner.
There are so many great things about Ratatouille but one of my favorites is that Remy never really changes from the beginning of the story. He is not like Ariel in that regard. He is an optimist and for the few moments when he isn’t he has Gusteau cheering him on, making sure he doesn’t settle. By the end of the movie the world has accepted Ego’s advice and ’embraced the new’, even the rat world, and Remy is accepted for who he is and what his heart desires.
I guess some might find Linguini a little bland but I always liked him. There is the liar reveal trope but it’s not too heavy-handed so I was ok with that too. The movie is so strong I will forgive a few tropes and characters needed to move the story along.
Other than that I think it is just about perfect. It looks gorgeous. Has great vocal performances throughout and is about a character figuring out where they belong and finally being accepted there. I love it!
A definite A+ from me.
Also, great job by Brad Bird who came in late and reworked the whole movie (originally Gusteau was alive and Remy starts out in the kitchen I believe). He shows his masterwork at storytelling and creating characters we relate too with huge heart.