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Plot

The mouse Rémy, who has apparently spent his entire existence scrounging among trash, appears unable to acknowledge that he is a rat. Like his human hero, the chef Auguste Gusteau, he aspires to create edible works of art with his amazing sense of smell. Rèmy will arrive at the Gusteau restaurant and get engaged in the affairs of a clumsy scullery boy named Alfredo Linguini against the background of a fascinating Paris. The two will form a bond via their shared love of cooking, their determination to save Gusteau's restaurant from the evil chef Skinner, and their success in winning over the critic Anton Ego's palate.

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Why you should watch it?

Do you think that a mouse would be able to make its voice, or more accurately, its squeak, heard in a society full of stereotypes and prejudices? The basic answer is no, it cannot. Without being naive, nobody could ever think that they could eat a superb French dinner prepared by a rat. Because that is how people like Remy are portrayed: as disgusting rodents living beneath and devouring anything they choose. But do not worry; we all have "guardian angels." Someone who can look after us regardless of our shape, nature, color, or appearance may be described as this. The first person to place his trust in a mouse was Alfredo Linguini. In many cases, all it takes is to give someone a little chance, as has been simply and effectively shown in Ratatouille, and they can surprise us. Each of us have latent potential or skills, but these qualities don't always surface on their own without the support of a friend figure. A shoulder to lean on can be invaluable at particular times in life and change the course of our destiny. In this instance, the brave Linguini pushed beyond outer appearance and learned the future secret to his success despite those black eyes and that blue fur.

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But Ratatouille features more than just Remy and Linguini as its main characters. Colette, with whom Linguini falls in love, is another, as is Emile or Remy's father, who struggles to comprehend this brother or son who cannot fit in with the community of mice and instead aspires to a world that is always perceived as hostile. In general the characters of Ratatouille are probably not the most remarkable trait of this movie, but they still contribute to adding value to it.

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Much deeper discussions about the human world, the emotional spectrum, and everything related to the major existential challenges are hidden behind a simple, linear, engaging, and extremely entertaining narrative structure. Arguments like these, which begin with the characters but quickly penetrate the spectator's emotions, who discovers himself participating in an exhilarating experience with repercussions that are never trivial.

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Ratatouille portrays the acceptance of the different, of that domain that, in the eyes of a "normalized" and flat society, is disgusting but which, in reality, is its richness, with amazing insight. Because although the idea of a mouse in the kitchen may be repulsive, it may also serve as an allegory or metaphor for the painfully slow process of societal integration and inclusion.

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The creativity of the director (Brad Bird, who also directed The Incredibles and the underrated The Iron Giant) is unmistakably demonstrated in the culinary footage. Even basic tasks like peeling a lemon or making carrot consommé become entertaining situations that serve the story in Ratatouille, which never lapses into the mundane or uninteresting. As you watch, you almost appear to smell the flavors and odors used by the clever Remi and the other cooks.

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Conclusion

Ratatouille stands out from its direct competitors in two ways: first, it features many elements that are completely photorealistic, such as the reconstruction of Paris and various natural phenomena (fire, water, reflections, etc.); second, it manages to appear cartoonish despite using 3D, which is once again just a format that, thanks to the Pixar animators' skill in using it, succeeds in giving the movie that warmth and authenticity.
But apart for the more technical traits of this movie, what I want to highlight again, is the message it wants to convey, that stereotypes usually ruins our experiences with people "different" from us. The story of Rémy wants to teach us that we shouldn't ever judge other people form their appearances or from the preconceptions that we have of them, but give them a chance, and we will discover that most of the time, they will surprise us in a positive way.

As a recap, a must watch animation movie, if you haven't already seen it!!!

Rating

My personal vote is:

9.0/10