RATATOUILLE
(G)
MOVIE: **** (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: **** (out of 5)
STARRING
Patton Oswalt as REMY
Ian Holm as SKINNER
Lou Romano as LINGUINI
Brian Dennehy as DJANGO
Peter Sohn as EMILE
Peter O’Toole as ANTON EGO
Brad Garrett as GUSTEAU
Janeane Garofalo as COLETTE
Directed by: Brad Bird
Studio: Disney
BY KEVIN CARR
If “Ratatouille” wasn’t such a good film, my original theatrical experience would have ruined it. Yet, even with the hyperactive kids in the theatres and the dumbass parents who couldn’t keep them in check, I still enjoyed it.
The latest in the line of Pixar hits for the Mouse House, “Ratatouille” reunites audiences with “The Incredibles” director Brad Bird. However, this is an entirely different movie. While “The Incredibles” was much more of an action piece for a family audience, “Ratatouille” is a much more mature story. Sure, it’s got a CGI rat with some slapstick comedy, but at its heart, it is a much more somber story.
The film follows the rat Remy, who has dreams of being a chef. Of course, the fact he’s a rat makes his dream all the more difficult to achieve. However, Remy finds a way to start cooking when he befriends a kitchen worker who becomes his cooking puppet.
Whether you see this film on DVD or you saw it in the theaters, it’s a feast for the eyes. The animation is as good as ever, and Pixar continues to push the envelope and challenge themselves to make the virtual world even more real than our own. The characters are charming, and the story is warm and friendly. And experiencing the film at home on DVD is so much better than watching it with a snot-nosed two-year-old kicking your seat throughout.
Pixar fans and Disney fans alike should pick up this DVD for a keepsake, and the only thing that might keep you away is the knowledge that at some time in the near future, they’ll come out with a definitive 2-disc collector’s edition. Otherwise, the deleted scenes, featurette on food and the two animated shorts included on the disc should tide you over.
I have two sons, and they were more excited than I was to get this movie. And, aside from a few scenes that involve kissing, they watch the film with wide-eyed enthusiasm.