Newest Pixar film a real charmer

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2007)

The charm - and ultimately the success - of John Lassiter and Pixar Studios has been its ability to create motion pictures that are pretty much ageless in their appeal.
Such films as "Toy Story," "A Bug's Life," "Monster's Inc.," "Toy Story 2," "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles" and "Cars," have thrilled youngsters with their brilliant, colorful animation and fun, goofy characters; while adults could savor the multi-layered story lines and familiar pop cultural references.
The organization has also made a staple out of the two-hour "cartoon" movie, something unheard of before the advent of Pixar.
The newest offering, "Ratatouille" (pronouced "rat-a-tooie"), does not divert from that formula, telling the tale of an amazing Parisian rat, Remy (voiced by Patton Oswald, the short, nerdy actor who's made a name for himself on such TV series as "Crank Yankers," "Mr. Show with Bob & David" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," among others), who cannot abide eating the same garbage day after day.
Blessed with an acute sense of smell (he sniffs out rat poison for his colony) and an ultra-sensitive palette, he soon finds his way to Gusteau's Bistro, a world famous restaurant that has fallen upon hard times since a negative newspaper review by Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole) caused Chef Gusteau (Brad Garrett, "Everybody Love Raymond") to fall into a funk and die.
Here, Remy runs into a poor sap of a cleaning boy, Linguini (Pat Romano), a cross between Jerry Lewis and Napoleon Dynamite. While trying to add to a soup dish one night, Linguini only succeeds in making the food unpalatable; fortunately, Remy saves the day, creates an amazing concoction and earns everyone's praise - for Linguini.
The rodent is soon captured, and Linguini is ordered to kill it by the Chef (Ian Holm, "Alien," "Lord of War"). He can't do it, however, and the two make an agreement - Remy will aid Linguini in the preparation of food, and the latter will take credit for it.
Taking advantage of the rat's innate ability to create amazing dishes, Gustaeu's become a popular Paris hot-spot once again. This incites the jealousy of Chef, the anger of Ego and the resentment of Remy's stern pop, who tells his boy never to trust humans.
To complicate things even more, while trying to keep this secret from being discovered, Linguini falls for fellow chef, Collette (Janeane Garofalo).
Soon, though, complications arise, and on the very night Ego intends to visit (and write what he thinks will be another scathing review), Remy's role in the deception is uncovered, causing everyone - including Collette - to walk out of the restaurant.
Will the day be saved? Will Linguini and Collette end up together? And what of Remy and his dreams? Well, you'll have to see the film. To me, this picture elevates the craft, at least as mature storytelling is concerned. This isn't the best Pixar film, but it is certainly one of the most complicated and nuanced.
From the subtle and appropriate musical arrangements to the perfect vocal characterizations to the aforementioned animation (just the lush, sweeping views of Paris at night are worth the price of admission) to the complex tale. No bells and whistles here - it isn't necessary - just a sweet love story (love between friends, family and, of course, a boy and a girl). In addition, the message is no matter what someone looks like on the outside, it's the inner character that counts.
It's a moral that's been told countless times, but "Ratatouille" delivers it in a fresh, new and charming way.