Imagination in Cinematic Form

Rating: 9/10 (5 July 2007)

Ratatouille is one of the best animated movies I've ever seen. It isn't the best. But it is without a doubt, one of the best. It involves Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt), a rat who strives to become a cook, like his role model Gusteau (Brad Garrett), the magnificent chef. His immortal words were, 'anyone can cook.' I say were, because after a scathing review by the feared and infamous food critic Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole), the great Gusteau died of what seemed to be a broken heart, and his magnificent restaurant lost two stars, giving him three out of five. Although his family tries to knock it out of him, he continues to try to become a cook. Then he is separated from them and finds himself alone in Paris, at the restaurant that Gusteau owned before he died. So he embarks on a journey to become a cook, using a meek orphan by the name of Linguini (Lou Romano)to do the deed, meeting many characters and learning many things along the way.
Who could've thought up an idea like that? A rat who wants to be a cook. The capacity to imagine ideas like this is incredible.
The story moves along well, its plot is very well done.
The animation is top-notch, the best I've seen yet. The lights of Paris, the darkness of Paris, stunning visuals. The animation is also perfectly in tune with the actor's voices as well. These animated mannikins seem like real breathing human beings (and rats.) The voicing is perfect, absolutely on the mark, with special kudos to Peter O'Toole and Ian Holm, the latter of whom voiced the vertically challenged Skinner, who claimed control of the Gusteau restaurant after Gusteau's death. Absolutely perfect.
Brad Bird is the man for the job. After doing The Iron Giant, and the Incredibles, I knew that he was a master when it came to bringing animation to life. A magnificent job.
A definite winner. I don't know about it being in the top 250, but hey, this movie is good, so I'm not complaining.