Five stars out of Five.
The latest Pixar movie, Ratatouille, simply is, without question, the outstanding animation movie of this past year. There is so much positive things to talk about that I am struggling just to write something which doesn't sound like a run-on sentence of multiple thoughts, or an 'overall assessment' that goes beyond the space of your monitor screen.
For once, it might be more concise to itemize the negative impressions I have. But this is not going to be that kind of review. We shall rise up to the challenge, and describe, with no compromises, why this author believes Ratatouille is worth 10 times what you paid for at the box office.
Story / Plot - 4 out of 5
Dialogue - 5 out of 5
Character Development - 5 out of 5
Acting (or voice) - 5 out of 5
Cinematography / Animation - 5 out of 5
Music - 5 out of 5
X-Factor (variable element*) - 5 out of 5
Plot Theme
On the surface, the plot did not make use of the same material recent animations have -- talking animals, animals loose on the city, animals making their way in the world, etc. Yes, we did have talking rats. But the plot wasn't about the talking rats. It was about one talking rat's dream. The plot was about the dream! On a closer look, the plot gave off a strong flavor of "partial benefit symbiosis" -- where two 'uniques' merge as one for partial benefit to each individual. It was less subtle in this movie (because it was a movie with a much younger audience), but it has parallels to the likes of Cyrano de Bergerac.
In other words, the plot had multiple levels to it -- it was about a rat's passion and dreams. It was about the benefit and harmfulness of a symbiotic relationship. It was a foodie (food-lovers) movie. It was about the relationship between the value we find in what we do, and the value we put into family. It was a 'coming-of-age' movie (for those who like to overuse that one). And it was a funny movie with jokes for the kids, and adults.
Character Development
The characters had depth, because they dealt with problems that aren't too far off from what we deal with in real life. How many of us feel estranged against a parent. Disagree with them about who we are, and what we're capable off. How many of us have dreamed of something better for ourselves. A better job, somewhere we can be happy, friends. How many of us have been jealous for not being recognized, or a sense of wanting to be someone, somebody.
These are all easy to notice on live-picture movies. But in the world of animated films, its hard to see Zebras or Giraffes, Emperor Penguins or Squirrels, Cars or Robots exhibit these emotions. The challenge of character development in animation is whether I can see myself as that character, walking in the same shoes (or paws, claws, etc.). In Ratatouille, I can easily see myself as the aspiring cook Remy, rat-persona, or no.
Dialogue
The dialogue is one of the smartest and most moving I have heard from animation AND live-picture movies in a long while. It is easy, especially with children's movies, to fall back on time-tested dialogue and humor that is funny because it has been laughed at so many times already in the past. Some movies shine with one conversation or two which stand out. Ratatouille is a movie that overdelivers this. Not snobby, pretentious smart. And not teary-jerk, heart-on-their-sleeve, puppy-dog-eyes moving. But smart because it makes you understand life. And moving because it makes you care for what the characters care for, forgetting for a moment the fact that it is a fictional work.
Examples of the smart-moving dialogue:
1. "Where are you going?" says Remy's dad. Remy says "with any luck (pause) forward."
2. "In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere."says Anton Ego.
3. "Food always comes to those who cook (fade)." - Chef Gusteau
Animation
I will not pretend to know much about how difficult or easy it is to produce a work of animation. What I can talk about is how much I appreciate how beautiful it was. Notice that the whole movie seemed like it was shot with a camera - the background sometimes being out of focus when it's the forefront that's clear, and vice versa. And the animation of Paris lights, while I doubt if truly reflective of real life, was always breathtaking. The animation of the food was life-like - from preparation to finish.
Music
It had none of the campy, sing-song music that children moviegoers will be singing for weeks. No "I like to move it, move it", or such. And I'm saying that's a good thing! The music raised the level of the movie dramatically - from kids movie, to a heartwarming story. I for one cannot remember any of the songs played in the movie, nor hum any of the melodies. But I will certainly like to have those songs in my music collection someday. They just seem to evoke the right mood, a mix of meaningful happiness and fulfilling activity.
X-Factor
For this movie, the X-Factor was the thought-provoking message of the movie. Not every kids' movie has one. And not every kids' movie that has one goes beyond the overused box of moral lessons. Be yourself. Dream, and make it happen. Overcome the odds. One against many. Courage of your convictions.
Ratatouille had -- anybody (not EVERYbody) can be somebody great. This is pretty subtle, and it took 2 days for the right meaning to sink in to me. Subtle. Unique. Beyond cliche. Concise.
Closure
I will end not with my own words, but in the words of Anton Ego, the critic-character in the film. The following dialogue is his words in the film, about his experience eating from Remy's creations:
"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more."
I wish I could be coming to the defense of something unappreciated and unrecognized, new and brilliant, a work I see that has great value. Alas, this time, I come to the defense of all these things, except that Ratatouille is neither unappreciated or unrecognized. I join the ranks of many on this one.
Plot Synopsis:
Remy is a rat, constantly risking life in an expensive French restaurant because of his love of good food, as well as a desire to become a chef. Yet, obviously, this is a rather tough dream for a rat. But opportunity knocks when a young boy, who desperately needs to keep his job at the restaurant, despite his lack of cooking abilities, discovers and partners the young Remy. Its up to the two of them to avoid the insane head chef, bring the rest of Remy's family up to his standards, win his partner a girl, and, of course, produce the finest Ratatouille in all of France.
