Let me preface this review by saying that although this movie is gorgeously done animation by director and writer Brad Bird (The Incredibles 2004), this fairytale about a Remy the Rat’s dreams of being a master chef coming true does have one significant problem for parents. The animation is so well done that the scenes of the rats fleeing one home at the beginning or swarming together to help Remy towards the end are so very well done that it was nauseating. It was like actually watching a tidal wave of rats and I’m sorry Disney and Pixar – you can’t make that cute for me.
I felt physically ill during the scenes where the rats flood into the kitchen of Gusteau’s the fine French restaurant where Remy has been making his mark on fine, French cuisine and I wasn’t the only one. The Mom sitting next to me seemed to experience the same revulsion – the kids on the other hand, they liked it. So if you have real issues with rodents, chances are this is not the film for you.
The Movie
That being said, the overall tale of Remy dreaming of being a great chef but hampered by what he is and the dreams of Linguini wanting to just hang onto a job without any idea of who he is sets the stage for hilarity as they join forces. There are some intense scenes however that can be hard on the younger children including several scenes of Remy being chased by a gun wielding woman intent on blowing him away; cooks coming after him with knives and then the terror of nearly drowning in the sewers combined with nearly getting run over several times.
Those scenes can be particularly hard on the little ones. There’s also one gruesome scene in front of a shop that sells rat poison with dead rats hanging in the window. Truthfully speaking, this is a difficult movie to laud as holding the same wonderfully enchanting qualities of previous Pixar movies such as Cars, The Incredibles or Toy Story. Those movies enchanted because of the characters and the scenarios and while Remy is kind of cute (I’m sorry Disney, the marketing scheme with all the rats in the Disney stores and shelves? Not very cute) – rodents in the kitchen is just gross.
Ultimately, Remy and Linguini make good and they get their happily ever after and that’s important for kids to get that feeling of hope that no matter who you are or what you are, that you can achieve your dreams if you work hard and believe in yourself. The only other drawback to the film is that it clocks in at nearly 2 hours and that’s a long time for kids. The pacing in the film doesn’t always mesh with the timing and that creates some long stretches where kids fidget and get bored, but they are quickly re-engaged in yet another chase or danger scene for Remy.
Overall, I’m glad my daughter liked the movie, but I can’t see watching it again – especially the creepy, swarming rats – UGH. There is one glimmer of fun though, the movie opens with a short film called ‘Lifted’ that’s hilarious. It shows a training sequence for an alien trying to steal someone from their home and how horribly bad he is at it. Fair warning parents, there is a glimmer of a behind as the man they are trying to snatch gets stuck in a folded position in a window. Still – it’s pretty funny.
Ratatouille is rated G and families can find something for everyone to enjoy.
Check out other Pixar film reviews.
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Heather Long also blogs on fitness, marriage and Disney