Vegetable Stewie
Unlike the current trailer for the Iron Man film, which could not resist using the Black Sabbath track, Ratatouille avoids the use of “Rat In The Kitchen” throughout. Indeed like most Pixar films it eschews the sentimental song in favour of a surprisingly compelling story. Of a rat who is also a masterchef. What is interesting about what seems to be a relatively unattractive plotline is how for an all ages film it manages to sophisticatedly juggle lots of attractive themes based on the age of the viewer.
Themes for the kiddies:
Don’t eat crap food.
You can be what you want to be.
You too could be the long lost son of a masterchef (prince / princess).
Themes for the teenagers:
You can be what you want to be, IF YOU WORK FOR IT.
Take control of your diet, don’t settle for crap food.
The act of creation is more valuable than the act of criticism.
Sexism exists.
Going to Paris is great.
Themes for the adults:
Even if you aren’t what you want to be, don’t be a cunt to people who are
Don’t feed your kids crap
Praise is probably more valuable than negative criticism
Themes for the idiot:
If you are going to be controlled by a rat pulling your hair, you are probably better off working in an industry that wears hats.
Brad Bird yet again manages to create a surprising film from relatively hackneyed ingredients, with the excellent by unflashy animation serving the story. Since most of it takes place in the kitchen he manages to mark its borders well, the dining room of no return and the exterior of Paris. Indeed if previous Pixar movies have always had a technical challenge (water, fur etc) this one seems to create a romantic but realisticly stylised Paris. It has a real sense of place, or – as fitting with the film a real Mice En Place. Or if you really want to extend the pun to breaking point, the triumph of Ratatouille is its Mice En Seine.
The downside of Ratatouille is after you see it, you come out desperate to eat some really good food. Which isn’t so easy when you are stuck in the Mall in Wood Green.
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Mark M on November 8th, 2007
What I pondered again after seeing this: why do they hire name actors to do the voices on animated movies? I almost never recognise them, or not unless they have been doing the publicity circuit beforehand. I can think of exceptions – John Goodman in Monsters, Inc. – but I am dubious about both the artistic and financial wisdom of the practice.
In no way affected by that, I really enjoyed Ratatouille.
Andrew Farrell on November 8th, 2007
“Eat well, kids” slightly undermined by the only entirely sympathetic character being a wobble-mountain.
Also even more food in films, working no better here than elsewhere. In fact worse - you can’t even go “yes, I can see how I might make that, and would enjoy it”, whereas here they make it by magic.
Also more jokes, please.
I did enjoy it, though!
Pete on November 8th, 2007
Oh come on, are you saying the only entirely sympathetic character is the imaginary ghost? WHO IS DEAD. Eat well = eat good! And the food here worked tremendously well, I can see exactly how the final ratatouille both worked and WOULD work.
Name actor wise this is pretty low on them (Peter O’Toole excepted). Frankly getting Janene Garofolo in to do a cod French accent was probably a bit of a waste of money - but the two leads are pretty minor US comedians.
Oh, OK, you’re right, I didn’t get Ian Holm, Brian Denehey or Will Arnett. That’s acting!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/
jeff w on November 8th, 2007
Why is St Paul’s Cathedral in that picture?
Mark M on November 8th, 2007
Yes, the final ratatouille was rather along the lines of one of those Heston B remixes of classic recipes – and I will have a go at making it that way.