REEL TALK ::: Big Enough to Wear a Toque

Most people would not be inclined to dismiss Ratatouille as a waste of terrabytes specifically because it's a Pixar movie, for Pete's sake. But I just couldn't find it in me to be excited over this one when I first saw its trailer. So it's a rat and he can cook, very big deal. I was waiting to be intrigued by its chief human character and, as I had found out, that was not the way to go.

Here's how it starts: Linguini's a f*ck-up loser who can't keep a job. He shows up at Gousteau's, a faded glory type fine dining restaurant in Paris now also involved in mass-market microwavable 'cuisine', and gets hired as the garbage boy. Remy is a country rat who, after getting separated from his colony, found himself a privileged spot at a window that looks into Gousteau's kitchen. He also happens to know a thing or two about culinary arts and while he's not the snob his father dismisses him to be, he does strive to get a better way of life even if his family prefers the status quo.

We soon realize why this Linguini kid gets fired all the time as he clumsily knocks over a stock pot full of soup while mopping the kitchen floor. Scared out of his wits, he tries to cover up his crime by filling the pot with water and dumping all sorts of spices and ingredients into it before anyone notices. Remy was watching from his window and sees the disaster. He then rushes inside to stop bumblehead Linguini, who knew nothing about the cooking, from further murdering the recipe. Linguini catches Remy's deeds and traps the rat before he could escape. Just then, the chef throws a fit at Linguini for trying to interfere with the cooking. Nonetheless, Remy saves the soup and made it an instant hit for the restaurant that day. The two become friends and Remy becomes puppet master to Linguini who becomes the toast of the F & B press for resurrecting Gousteau's.

As I said earlier, the movie didn't ignite any desire in me to see it but I did and on opening day no less. Why? Because there was nothing better to do this morning.

Seriously, go see the movie and be impressed by Pixar's attention to detail...again. The backgrounds are so incredibly realistic you'd think they filmed on location in Paris and imposed the characters on the celluloid. The dialogue holds your attention (not just because they're talking in fake Fransh azens that are harder to make out), the rat is a pretty combination of pink and blue, Peter O'Toole isn't even on screen and I'm still amazed, the story has important values, and most vital of all, you learn about cooking. Another thing I just discovered is that, aside from Peter O'Toole, the movie features some of my favorite actors: Ian Holm (Bilbo from LOTR), Brad Garrett (from Everybody Loves Raymond), Will Arnett (from Arrested Development), John Ratzenberger (from Cheers) and Janeane Garofalo.

All those things make Ratatouille a good way to spend a couple of hours in the theatre. As long as you don't find yourself sharing it with mongrels like the Beverly Hillbillies who walked in, took over an entire row behind me, and started yelling at each other from opposite ends. They were really irritating and they didn't even have any children with them!

So try to go in at the first screening when there are fewer people with plastic bags which can and will ruin the experience for you. I mean I had to move from the stadium seats down to the floor. Thankfully, the elderly couple who sat behind me this time were sweet and discreet. I mean they would laugh at things but not like how the yetti slob earlier would as he chomped and bawled at every bit of slapstick he saw. This couple would remark quietly and succinctly. Sometimes the husband would explain something to the wife but they kept it short and clear. Makes me think of how I want my later years to be like but that's another story.