Ratatouille (2007)

3.5 out of 4

Starring: voices of Patton Oswalt, Janeane Garofalo, Ian Holm, Brad Garrett, Peter O'Toole, Peter Sohn, John Ratzenberger

Director: Brad Bird

Time: 110 mins

Viewed: Loews Monmouth Mall, Eatontown, New Jersey

Pixar’s latest computer-animated concoction is about a rat named Remy (Oswalt), who loves to cook and becomes partners with Linguini (Romano), a clumsy garbage boy at the famous Gusteau’s (Garrett) restaurant. Meanwhile, head chef Skinner (Holm) is scheming to fire Linguini; Remy’s family, including brother Emile (Sohn), arrive to cause trouble; and tough gourmet critic Anton Ego (O’Toole) is scheduled for a make-or-break taste test! Sounds simple enough, but Ratatouille is a wonderfully rich, emotionally textured tale of the art of creation, replete with some of the warmest, delectably glorious and most stunning animation in film history. Directed with delicious confidence by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), the film is a welcome step up from last year’s Cars, featuring lovable characters, sumptuous (or is that scrumptious?) visuals, and the renowned frantic (and funny) finale that Pixar is known for. Opening rat’s tour of the kitchen and restaurant is a stylistic tour-de-force, reminiscent of the famous tracking shot from Scorcese’s Goodfellas, but there are many other technical marvels to savour. A few mid-film lulls don't detract; this deserves to be in the same league as Pixar’s best (The Incredibles, Toy Story 2 and A Bug's Life).

(c) Joe Wong (1 July 2007)