A rat dreams of becoming of world class chef and gets the chance to live that dream by controlling a helpless restaurant worker in the 2007 Pixar film, “Ratatouille.” Remy has a unique skill for a rat that leads to his father putting him in charge of sniffing out poison, but once he gets separated from his family and ends up in Paris, he goes to the restaurant that belonged to his hero. He befriends the newest worker, Linguini, who just wants a job but has no interest in cooking. Eventually, he controls Linguini’s movements, helping him cook and finds that Linguini is the rightful owner of the restaurant. The pair then team up to impress the harshest critic in town before the restaurant is shut down due to rats.

This is definitely one of the weirder Pixar entries, which is saying something when you’re discussing a studio that has made films about toys coming to life, monsters scaring kids for electricity and an entire world of nothing but cars. But it’s still a lot of fun. The unlikely friendship between Remy and Linguini is great and you can’t help but laugh as Remy tries to learn how to help Linguini, first with biting him before learning he can control Linguini’s arms by pulling his hair. Plus, the fiery Collette is amazing as you can tell she earned her place in a world that is viewed as only for men, but she also clearly views Linguini as someone different than the spiteful men who tried to hold her down instead of help lift her up.

This is the second Pixar film released after Disney officially purchased the studio in 2006 and it helps guide the studio as an official Disney property. Disney has always been great with rodents. We all know and love Mickey and Minnie Mouse, but the two “Rescuers” movies and Timothy Mouse in “Dumbo” have proven just how great Disney is with mice. While I’m certain most of the production for this film was finished before the acquisition was complete, it’s still a great tale about a rat from a Disney property.

While I’m very positive about this film, I must admit that I only like it, I don’t love it. I enjoy myself every time I see it, but it’s not a Pixar film that I rush back to watch again. It’s a high-quality film with some excellent voice work, and I’m grateful that it doesn’t take itself too seriously like a few other, later, Pixar films, but I still find myself only liking it. Objectively, it’s better than a lot of movies I like more. But, subjectively, I just have more fun with other Pixar films.

Ranking: 3.5 stars

What did you think of “Ratatouille?”

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

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