FIRST!! Don't bother replying. A NINETY-SECOND interactive commercial was punishment enough.

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Seriously I loved this film. I like cooking in general and I found the irony of a rat cooking for a restaurant hilarious.


I'm already excited for the next film you're gonna review Doug. WALL E is a favorite of mine.

mine too! Wall-e always makes me cry, also Up which is my other favorite pixar movie ever.

We are showing Ratatouille at our drive in cinema this September. Check out our website for more info!
www.caseysdrivein.com

Yes, that ending speech from the food critic is marvelous, and the ending always gives me the warm fuzzies, as well.

Rats! A movie about a cooking RAT gives me the fuzzies. Now that's Pixar back on top. ;)

One thing that I picked up on and always thought was pretty interesting and sweet was the relationship between Remy and his brother. Now I know his brother isn't a main character and isn't seen very much in the film as a whole, but just hear me out on this.

Remy is different from his family, and his family doesn't understand him and wants him to conform, but he's a free spirit, and yeah yeah, we've seen it all before, right? Well, I like that in this story his brother isn't just...a random family member that exists and shuns him out like everyone else. The two actually have a pretty nice, friendly, brotherly relationship. There's a line in the beginning where Remy's narration says, "He doesn't understand me, but I can be myself around him." And its true. He acts nervous when Remy rebels with his cooking escapades, but only because he doesn't want him to get in trouble with their dad. When things don't seem quite so nerve-wracking, he has fun learning a bit about Remy's interests and helping him with things. And when the two are reunited in the middle of the movie, Remy's extremely excited! He's happy in his new life cooking and not being mocked, but he's also genuinely thrilled to see his brother again. He's happy to see his father and the rest of his clan again, too, but not in the same way he was with his brother. Little touches like that make me me happy, and give us a hint of what Remy truly cares about...besides food. XD /end tangent

I am a bit of a family rebel myself! :) I love that rat!

If you fancy watching the movie again check our our drive in cinema!! Showing Ratatouille in September 2013!


www.caseysdrivein.com

I can agree with your critical points in this one, however regardless, it remains one of my favourite Pixar movies. Keep up the great reviews, Doug!

I loved the ending of this film! Not gonna spoiled it but if you haven't seen it, go and watch it.

Ah Ratatouille, my Pixar favorite until Wall-E showed-up (the year after... sigh for its pole-position).

I'm always amazed at the scene where Rémi explains to his brother how flavours can explode when combined, the idea of associating pyrotechnic effects and music actually made me hungry the first time I saw the movie.

The way Paris is depicted is... timeless. Or rather lost in time. Like a strange mix of 30s, 50s and 60s altogether, and then time stopped at some point. Which is ok I guess, even though it always brings a sarcastic smirk to french people watching it.
At least the clichés about the french are not heavy and overabundants, so it's fine.

What really satisfied me is the fact that the film is absolutely spot-on regarding the passionate relation between France and Cuisine.
I remember how the entire theater roared out of indignation when Skinner revealed his marketing plan associating Chef Gusteau to micro-waveable trashfood.
Also, the idea of choosing the ratatouille of all the kind of delicious things you can eat in France is also a proof (if needs be) of Brad Bird's genius : I won't spoil anything but the way the critic reacts to it is something every french person can relate to.

Strangely enough, after this movie came out, a lot of my american friends asked me "how to make a perfect ratatouille". The answer is simple : have your mother cook it.

"I won't spoil anything but the way the critic reacts to it is something every french person can relate to."

I don't think you need to be French, the idea of "comfort food" is pretty universal.

And, God, that scene... thinking of it; it's so quick, and I don't think there's even any dialogue, but it's so amazing and meaningful. And it's great that the filmmakers trusted both their art and the audience that they didn't feel the need to draw it out or over-explain it.

Yes, but we french know what's a ratatouille an what it tastes like. And most of us have a mother, a grand-mother, a father, an uncle or else who cooks it incredibly good.

The French really are exactly like that with food aren't they! I lived there for just under a year and I still can't cook, but wow did I enjoy eating everything my french friends would cook me!

BIG fan of Ratatouille... so we're showing it at our drive in cinema. if you fancy watching it again check us out...

www.caseysdrivein.com

Just out of curiosity, Doug, are you going to review the Disney Feature Animation 3-D films too, or just Pixar? I'd really like to see your thoughts on "Chicken Little," "Meet the Robinsons," "Bolt," and "Tangled."

Why does anyone bother asking him questions here? In all the years he's been doing this, I don't think he's ever directly replied to a comment.

He did say he would; I guess he's going to get around to them after "Brave".

He doesn't directly respond to comments, but he does read them, which sometimes leads to him answering those questions in the form of a video or commentary.

Actually Doug already did Tangled last year in Disneycember. And he did Bolt on Sibling Rivalry.

I'm thinking he'll do the non-Pixar films after the Pixar films. He already did Tangled last year, though, and Bolt on Sibling Rivalry, as another reply has mentioned.

By the way, where the hell is Sibling Rivalry? I liked that show, and we haven't seen anything from it in a while.

YES! Anton Ego is totally that guy from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! I noted that to myself in the theater and I think it's awesome that someone else noticed it too! And yeah, Ratatouille is one of my favorites from Pixar. I didn't really mind the fact that the Chefs were just side characters without much fleshing out, and I thought the bad guy Chef was a funny comedic foil, and I loved the dynamic between Linguini and Remy. I loved it then and I love it now.

Ratatouille was a great comeback for Pixar, and though the style is slightly different (probably because it's Brad Bird as the director again), they tested the waters and did well at it. I really like the creativity put into this film. It feels new and fresh, though it does have a familiarity to it. (Also, it's probably just me, but I swear Pixar has a thing for France, it's like almost every single movie of theirs has something French in it, so to make an entire movie set in Paris has to be their biggest dream.)

The movie really does make me want to jump up and learn to cook, and everything's so delicious-looking. This has to be a movie you can't watch on an empty stomach, and then you start imagining rats fixing meals.

...or was that just me?

Next up: WALL-E. *squirms in seat*

Everything you said Doug is exactly what I love Ratatouille! When I first saw this film in theaters, I was sitting with a crowd of people who REALLY enjoy the movie and I too love the ending.

I think the Food Critic played by Peter O'Toole was the BEST choice to voice the character because he is really creepy and brutal, and it's why I love him. The part when he said to Linguini that he want his heart roasted is just a nail to my chest. Everytime I listen that line creeps me out.

After listening to your opinion about this film, I think I'll watch it again to enjoy more of it. It is definitely Pixar's best film. It would be crazy to find out that there's people out there that they'll say Ratatouille is not the best Pixar film. Same thing with Wall-E. I'm like "what?" whenever I hear people not liking Ratatouille and Wall-E. I understand why, but it's not enough to understand what they don't like about the two films. Oh well, my taste must be weird than theirs I suppose.

Ratatouille is one of my favorite Pixar films. It perfectly captures what it feels like to be an artist creating their work and for someone who's in art school right now, it speaks to me.

I don't know, wasn't a huge fan of this one either.

I never liked Ratatouille that much. I don't know why. It just always came off as mediocre to me. It's not really a bad movie, just not my personal favorite.

Also, a lot of the characters came off as pretty boring to me. But overall, I think I agree with Doug's commentary on this film.

You deserve a Nobel prize Doug.

Good review, Doug.

And a DAMN great movie. What got me is that not only did some shots look like paintings, but some of the scenery looked realistic. In some limited spots, if someone told me "They used a real camera and just digitally added the characters", I would believe it.

This was one of Pixar's best.

I really like this movie! Not my favorite Pixar film, but still one of the better ones.
And I was surprised when Doug said that Chef Skinner was boring. I think he was hilarious!

Overrated.

I'm surprised at you Doug.

Honestly, if it wasn't for Toy Story 3, I would probably say Ratatouille is my favorite Pixar film. I just love it.

The absolutely amazing soundtrack is what keeps me watching this movie over and over again. It's spectacular.

its based on a french books, http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Anatole_%28mouse%29

When I saw the Sleepy Hallow Disney cartoon, I thought to myself, "Hey, it looks like the critic from Ratatouille! Or is the critic designed after that guy?" I'm glad Doug caught that as well.
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And not only that, but this film, how Gusteau described food as "music you can taste, color you can smell", THAT is what I ALWAYS thought about food whenever I ate it, though I could never explain it. I'm glad this film explained it for me!

Not gonna lie; that last monologue the critic has at the end is always how I had imagined NC would end...

I remember seeing this when I was really starting to notice admire the details in animation between this and Studio Ghibli. Like you said, this movie has hardcore scenery porn (and food porn), but I think my favorite thing to look at is the movements of all the characters, especially Remy's cooking (/dancing?) sequence in the first resteraunt scene.

The plot while story-wise kind of a mixed bag (not quite like Monsters Inc. but close) I found pretty inspiring for those wanting to achieve in...anything, though it might hit home hardest with artists like myself, especially the ending, which I found satisfying in that they didn't go with the fairy-tale ending route, which I think makes it stand out from other movies with "follow your dreams" themes

Oh! And I also loved the short on the DVD that edumacates you on how awesome rats are

I wonder if there's any connection between the little old lady at the beginning of this movie with the shot gun and gas at her disposal and the little old lady in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with the shot gun in her shopping cart.

ah, one of my favorite movies. for its flaws, it is very good watching, and sometimes makes me hungry. i especially loved tat female cheif. she was totally obsessed, passionate, and probably partially homicidal too. my kind of woman.

Very interesting review Doug. I'm glad you did get to see another Brad Bird Pixar film.

As for me, while it is an interesting movie at times, I feel like it suffers like most Pixar movies after the Incredibles. I don't really know why, but I feel after the Incredibles, Pixar kind of got too over-confident with themselves and forgot about the humor and style that they are known for.

This movie didn't leave much impression on me. I've not had a desire to return to it.

You know I haven't actually seen Ratatouille yet. Having seen this review you've convinced me to watch it. I'll report back with my own review when I'm finished.

Well I've seen it now and I agree with the Critic. I do think elements were rushed and it could have done without the third act having several characters argue over misunderstandings (especially with the romance, that needs to stop) but the characters are charming and as Doug says the critic is an interesting character with a great speech at the end.

one of my favorite Pixar movies, it got me to have a better understanding of food.

I love the ending to this movie for the little twist it has. Sure, the good guys 'win' in the end but in a different form than what you were expecting. Yet, it all works and is wonderfully heartwarming.