Ratatouille
The brief
Brad Bird's Ratatouille is Pixar firing on all cylinders, delivering a story about artistic passion that feels genuinely sophisticated without talking down to kids. Patton Oswalt brings real heart to Remy the rat, while the film builds to one of the most emotionally devastating food scenes ever put to screen involving the fearsome critic Anton Ego. The animation of Paris is gorgeous, but it's the way Bird captures the manic energy and crushing pressure of a professional kitchen that makes this feel authentic. Perfect for anyone who loved The Bear's kitchen chaos or gets genuinely excited about good food and the people obsessed with making it.
The verdict
If you appreciate sophisticated storytelling that treats both kids and adults with intelligence, or get genuinely excited about food and creative passion, this is Pixar at their absolute best. If you're looking for non-stop action or find the idea of a nearly two-hour animated film about cooking tedious, you'll be better served by something with more traditional thrills.
Watch with
- 👨👩👧👦 Perfect family movie night for all ages
- 👫 Great for aspiring chefs and food lovers
- ⚠️ Those with severe rat phobias might want to skip
Heads up
- Mild kitchen accidents and food contamination concerns (brief)
- Brief chase scenes that might startle young kids (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Brad Bird
- Cast
- Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O'Toole, Brad Garrett
Official synopsis
Remy, a resident of Paris, has quite a sophisticated palate. He would love to become a chef so he can create
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Whisper of the Heart (1995)
Both celebrate artistic passion through young dreamers pursuing creative crafts.
Total runtime: 1h 51m + 1h 51m = 3h 42m
