A Beautiful Tale That Couldn't Be Better

Rating: 10/10 (23 April 2008)

This film mesmerized me in so many ways, and I feel fairly certain you will feel the same if you have any appreciation for animation (though I have faith that those apathetic to the animated genre will still find much to enjoy). I have been a student of animation, both traditional and 3D, for many years now, and Ratatouille really blew my mind.
My ability to suspend disbelief was completely involuntary; for instance, I was saddened to see the list of voice actors who took part in the film. Though I knew nearly every one of the top fifteen actors, I recognized none of their voices on my first or second viewings (not that I couldn't pinpoint Patton Oswalt's voice from a crowded room, just that the tale's seamless creation of its virtual world didn't leave me thinking about such things). Each character so perfectly matches their voice- a feat that can be accredited to the modelers, the animators, and the voice actors alike- that you won't feel like famous voice actors were ever involved. The story is heartwarming, original, and hilarious: altogether encompassing everything I could possibly ask for in a comedy.
Ratatouille has the kind of story that is so often cut short by a ridiculous ending that either breaks the illusion of reality or leaves you with an unsatisfactory resolution that makes you replace your love of the rest of the film with your dislike of the end. Ratatouille's ending succeeds in creating neither of these endings; in fact, I daresay the ending is my favorite part.
The soundtrack, while limited, fits the film so perfectly, and the one lyrical track of note, being Le Festin by Camille, is as fantastic and memorable as the film itself.
The environments manage to be both perfectly believable and cartoon enough to not supersede the characters' styles.
Overall, I believe this is my favorite Disney film to date, above so many other beloved treasures. If you haven't seen it, do so- you won't be disappointed.