Remy, quick with the spices, saves young kitchen helper Linguini (Lou Romano) from ruining the soup of the day, and the two form an odd-couple bond. From then on, Remy becomes part Mister Miyagi, part puppeteer as he helps Linguini cook up delicious specials that put Gusteau’s back on the culinary map. But as Linguini soaks in his new fame as the chef du jour, Remy grows increasingly bitter that someone else is taking credit for his recipes.
The film’s nemeses are Gusteau’s new head chef—an angry little dictator (Ian Holm) who wants to make millions selling a line of pre-packaged frozen foods—and Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole), a food critic who loves writing negative reviews. Both are hilarious takes on two familiar French stereotypes: the Napoleonic boss and the condescending elitist.
The story doesn’t have the emotional depth of The Incredibles or Finding Nemo, but the animation is every bit as dazzling. Every scene of the chefs shredding, peeling, dicing, and stirring is vibrant and layered. And the moment Ego tastes the titular dish is so delicious a visual reference that it deserves to be a surprise.
Kids may ultimately favor the child-centric appeal of Toy Story or the vroom-vroom adventure of Cars, but grown ups will find a reason to ask for seconds of Ratatouille.
Reviewed By: Sandie Angulo Chen
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