The rat pack

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 2019)

I grew up with Disney's 2D classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, the Lion King etc. Either due to growing out of the age of their target audience, or the fact that the aesthetics of Shrek and the like were just too unappealing to me. And then came Ratatouille, a perfect little animated gem by Pixar, which combines two things that are very easy to grow fond of: good food and a good story.
It's a tale of the rat Remy with an overdeveloped sense of smell and taste, who refuses to settle for the usual trash bin menu, and goes on a mission to change his life. When he accidentally meets Linguini, a clumsy garbage boy of a Parisian restaurant, the two form a friendship and Remy helps him advance to the position of the cook, to the displease of the chef Skinner who is suspicious of Linguini's sudden success. The restaurant's original owner, Chef Gusteau, bequeaths the place to Linguini, and when Skinner finds out, a conflict unfolds, until it's discovered who is behind the boy's transformation into a stove genius. The characters have very well developed , distinctive personalities and the chemistry is palpable, especially between Remy and his rat pack (pun intended). The critic Anton Ego has a threatening charisma and it's a pleasure watching him unleash it on restaurant staff and writing about it. However, in the unexpected finale, he delivers a beautiful monologue about food critics, that pretty much sums up the relevance of them. Cooking is a joy, and one to be shared as a means to form friendships. Remy tells us a story of persistance, loyalty and dreams worth fighting for. A pleasure to watch, with excellent voiceovers and animation. Definitely one of those you gladly come back to.