Fun, but for who?

Rating: 7/10 (11 July 2007)

Can Pixar fail? I think even if those geniuses tried, they would still end up making an Oscar winning film. Which brings me to Ratatouille. It's everything you would expect from a Pixar movie: a loving cast of characters, a cute little story that teaches an important lesson, and the infamous CGI that has made Pixar the most popular computer-animated company in the world.
The story tells of a rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt) who longs to become a chef. However, there are two problems with that dream. First, he lives with a family of rats who enjoy nothing more than eating garbage, while Remy prefers more lavish cuisine. Second, a rat in any kitchen means trouble to the humans.
Remy's dream seems impossible until he gets washed away in a sewer (a very Flushed Away moment) and resurfaces in his favorite restaurant, Gusteau's, in Paris, France! There, the storyline splits into two as we follow the tale of a clumsy misfit named Linguini (Lou Romano), a kitchen boy who works at the restaurant. A twist of fate brings the rat and the boy together, and they create a system: Remy cooks while Linguini acts as his cover.
The story is where Ratatouille cuts somewhat short. It's more realistic than Cars (a world of talking cars? I never got it either) but it's still way too far fetched for adults. Unfortunately, a lot of the humor is above little kids' heads. So who was Brad Bird's target audience for this movie? I don't think even he knew.
Despite the fact that the story may not fit for many audience members, I enjoyed every second of this movie. What it lacks in humor it makes up in heart, warmth, and amazing animation. Definitely not one to miss.