RATATOUILLE est magnifique

Rating: 10/10 (3 July 2007)

The best comedies are not the funniest; the best songs are not the most melodic; the best actresses are not the prettiest.
I bring this up because there seems to be a criticism that RATATOUILLE is not the funniest movie Pixar has put out. It does, however, have the biggest heart (not the "aw" factor like "Isn't that cute?", but in the truly moving moments that connect to something deep, deep down inside us all).
For anyone to find a talent, a passion, and to be able to pursue it without having to hold back -- that is achievement at the highest, most godly manner, as if he or she has connected to God intimately because he or she has found his or her true calling and happily gives his or her life to it. We all dream of finding our purpose in life, and dedicating our lives completely to it...but it is rare that we do -- rare that we find it, rare that we pursue it, rare that we dedicate our lives to it. And for someone to be denied that chance -- not because of lack of talent or passion, but by being told "you can't" (for any reason) -- is among the saddest things in the world. It hardly makes life worth living. THIS is the real story of RATATOUILLE.
(Confession: I am a 45 year-old guy who shed a couple of well-deserved tears at this film. I am a sucker for someone connecting completely to his or her life.)
It is clear that Brad Bird lives for this message; THE INCREDIBLES touches on it equally well. His artistry indicates (to me) that he, too, has found his true calling. His life's mission seems to be to spread the Word.