A great family film that makes you feel like a kid again!

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2008)

Ratatouille is one of those movies that make you dream about the impossible. When we're little, we think about what it would be like to be an astronaut; movie or rock star. In Ratatouille, a fat rat named Remy dreams the impossible, to be a chef in the top restaurant in Paris.
The setup for the film alone was genius. The rat's dream is pure taboo and I mean pure taboo. He faces stiff opposition from his family and the world he dreams of working in despises his species. It's about as taboo as a Palestinian dreaming of marrying an Israeli and bearing Jewish children for the betterment of Israel (or vice versa). Humans can't stand rats and the idea of a rat in a restaurant can't be tolerated let alone, the idea of a rat being the head chef.
The screenplay was rock solid but it's the characters that really sell the film. And when I say character I'm talking about a combination of the animation and voice acting. Remy (Patton Oswalt) is modest, honest, and really believes in himself and finding peace in the world amongst humans. Oswalt's voice acting is wonderful and his voice really brings life to Remy. Remy is so full of potential, he's got a natural knack for cooking, and when he gets separated from his family in a sewer, there's nothing to stop him from pursuing his dream. When he meets the new garbage boy Linguini (Lou Romano) at his dream restaurant, the two of them forge an alliance. With both of them desperate to succeed, this odd couple sets out to take the Parisian restaurant scene by storm. This rat and his human sidekick were more entertaining than most of the characters I saw in movies this summer. Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Tobey Maguire, and Optimus Prime (well, maybe not Optimus) aren't nearly as fun to watch as Remy. And you know he's the honest, daring underdog, so you want him to win.
This is where I would have to say the animation is nothing short of perfect. This film had better action than most action films that come out these days, not to mention more laugh out loud laughs than any recent comedies. I'm sure now that a freeway chase is just as exciting as a chase through a kitchen might be. Actually, the kitchen scene might have the upper hand since it's more of an obstacle course. Hot pots and pans, boiling water, stoves, knives, not to mention all the food in the way as Remy runs for his life.
Most movies get a sequel automatically; this is a movie where I hope there is one. Maybe Remy could get a cooking show or write a book. At the end of the day, Ratatouille is one of the year's best films. It's one of those films that make you feel like a kid again.