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The second thing I realized about Pixar is that video game developers and hardware manufacturers must really hate them. Ever since Toy Story, the holy grail of video game graphics has shifted from “photo realism” to “Pixar film quality visuals”. The problem is that just when it seems they are getting close, Pixar comes along and releases a new movie, setting the bar that much higher and making the dreams of game developers that much harder to reach. Ratatouille is no exception. When I saw Cars, I wondered how Pixar could ever do any better. Then I watched Ratatouille, and admonished myself for having such little faith. While I will have to say that this film is not my favorite Pixar film, it is still far and away better than a lot of what others are releasing, and is a fun and humorous movie. Also, it looks incredible. Ratatouille is the story of a rat with a dream. Remy has a love for fine food, but being a rat, isn’t exactly welcome at the finer dining establishments to be found in Paris. Remy studies the work of the famous (and deceased) Chef Gusteau, and by happenstance, ends up at his Paris restaurant. He decides to sneak in and improve on the food being served there, but it is not long before he is discovered. Fortunately, his designated executioner is a young man named Linguini, a hapless fellow who knows less about cooking than he does about life in general. Soon, Remy and Linguini team up to become the best Chef in France. Of course, they don’t exactly have an easy time of things. If you don’t exactly feel all warm and fuzzy at the thought of a rat preparing your dinner, don’t feel bad. I don’t, either. That is probably why I place Ratatouille on a lower level that the rest of Pixar’s works. It is nothing to do with the movie itself, which, as I said, is terrific. Its just, even given Pixar’s incredible talent, no one can make a rat lovable. Rats are disgusting creatures. It’s a fact. Look it up if you don’t believe me. The scenes in the film of Remy and his rat compatriots infesting the kitchen at Gusteau’s restaurant were just disturbing. If Remy had been, say, an adorable puppy or a fuzzy kitten, or even if the setting had not had anything to do with food preparation, I would have been able to enjoy the film more. As it was, I could not get over the fact that there were rats running around and handling my food… I guess I am strange, because the ratings the film received, and the money it made at the box office, suggest that my opinion is not shared widely. Others were able to get over the whole rat in the kitchen thing, so obviously the problem is me. So, getting beyond all that, Ratatouille is filled with all of the crazy hijinks, great story telling, engaging characters, and incredible animation that we have all come to expect from a Pixar film. Again, I feel the need to point out the fact that I think Ratatouille is Pixar’s weakest effort as far as story goes- and it is still better than the vast majority of what other studios manage to produce. Like all Pixar films, it succeeds in leaving you feeling happy and content, and it’s roughly 111 minute run time flies by in a wink. It is just as enjoyable for adults as it is for children, making one of the ever fewer numbers of quality titles families with young children can enjoy together. There is really not much in the way of special features included on the disc. There is one featurette called “Fine Food and Film”, and while that may not sound terribly exciting, I must say I found it rather interesting. Brad Bird talks about what goes in to making a film, and Chef Thomas Keller talks about what goes in to making those silly looking little fancy meals, and the processes of these two seemingly unrelated endeavors is remarkably similar. It’s a good watch, well worth the time. In addition to the featurette, there are two shorts included. “Your Friend the Rat” is a very traditionally Disney-style feature about- well, rats. The animation and narration will be instantly familiar to anyone who has ever seen a Disney educational film, and it is pretty good, except that it is about rats. It is basically pro-rat propaganda, and if you haven’t guessed by now, I am squarely in the anti-rat corner of the ring. The best part is at the end, the Disney disclaimer regarding rats. Very funny. Now, the second short, called “Lifted”, is the best Pixar short I have ever seen, period. It is hilarious. It involves aliens and an abduction, and that is all I'm going to say about it, because I don’t want to spoil it. Just watch it. In the end, Ratatouille is a great Pixar family film, just as you would expect, and it is defiantly one worth adding to your collection. Even if you don’t like rats, you will still enjoy the film. -Ed-
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