Feast For The Eyes

When my friends invite me to joined them to watched Ratatouille (read: Ra-ta-TOO-ee) last weekend, I wasn't exactly excited. As far as I can tell, I've finished my 'must watched movie' list after Bourne Ultimatum, and an animated movie about a rat who like good food (instead of garbage) wasn't that interesting to me. So, I walked into the theater having almost not read a single review. I read a few posts in a forum who praised this movie, but didn't give it too much thought. But by the time I walked out, I was filled with a gush of good feeling and appreciation that I've not have for a long long time. I guess I should have more trust at Brad Bird. I mean, this is the guy who can put heart and depth on a 50 foot animated alien robot voiced by Vin Diesel, or a guy who probably make the best superhero movie out there.

Ratatouille is about a rat named Remy (Patton Oswalt). He's not like any other rat though. His heightened sense of smell enable him to developed a taste for better things in life. Which is in this case, food. He refused to eat garbage, but instead prefer stuff like cheese cooked with saffron. For his clan though, who is led by Django (Brian Dennehy), his father, he was seen as a weirdo or mainly just being picky. But Remy really love good food. He also idolised the late Auguste Gausteau (Brad Garrett), a chef who had his own tv program, and wrote a book called "Anyone Can Cook". Through the books and TV programs, Remy developed a love for cooking. Unlike the rest of his clan, Remy didn't see human as the enemy, but instead admired human ability to create.

When a series of events seperate Remy from the rest of his clan, and take him to Gasteau old restaurant in Paris, Remy finally got a chance to fulfill his dream. When a new bust boy name Linguini (Lou Romano) messed up a soup in the kitchen, Remy came to the rescue, fix the soup so well that it drew compliments from a food critic. He eventually befriended Linguini, and strike up a partnership. With Linguini human appearance and Remy talent, they took Gasteau restaurant back into one of the best in Paris. And with Remy's help, Linguini take over the restaurant from Chef Skinner (Ian Holm), Gasteau former partner, when it was discovered that Linguini is actually Gasteau long lost son.

However, the adulation that Linguini received while not acknowledging Remy to the public and his relationship with Collete (Jeanane Garofalo), the female cook in the restaurant put considerable strain to their friendship. Remy also took some pressure from his own clan, because he choose to live with Linguini rather than live with them in the sewer. To add further to the conflict, Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole), the food critic whose savage review was the reason why Gasteau restaurant lost its popularity in the first place, is making a second visit to the restaurant, eager to dismissed it again.

I'll stop here before giving away of the ending. But in short, Ratatouille's message of love, friendship, family and chasing your dreams wasn't shoved in our throat, but delivered perfectly. I also have to give props to Brad Bird to avoid making this a cliche and not pouring this movie with the oh-so-tired references to pop culture. Besides the story, Pixar again outdo themselves in terms of animation. It looked amazingly real, even the fur on Remy's body looked like the real thing.

With top notch voice acting (against the tide of casting big stars),the end product is easily one of the best movie of the year, not just for animated ones. Ratatouille managed to do something very few movies can do, providing class entertainment which is not bound by age. You can take the little ones to see it, or just went to watch it with friends.

Sorry Mr. Bird, to ever doubted you.