I hate rats. Let me be very clear…I truly am afraid of rodents. All rodents. They move too quickly. They are dirty. Their tails freak me out. I rarely watch anything that is rat-themed. I even left my home in the middle of the night because I saw a small mouse running down the hallway. Rodents are common in theatres as well. I always appointed a rodent assistant every year I taught. Harrowing times. It helps now that I am so visually impaired. I don’t see them coming.
I have horrible NY memories as a kid of teens, older than I was, capturing and brutally killing rats in our Bronx neighborhood. It was bloody and cruel behavior on their part, and traumatizing for me as a five-year-old. I can still vividly recall the entire scenario in my mind. I rarely pull it forward if I can help it. Damn. I just did.
For me to love a film about rats is utterly amazing, but I do. In 2007, Brad Bird created, wrote, directed, and acted in Pixar’s extraordinary tale about a rat who dreamed of becoming a chef. A crazy, bizarre concept to be sure. Imagine a rat cooking for humans. Pretend the rat could understand everything we say. Try to accept that one tiny rat could cook the most elaborate and exquisite cuisine. It boggles the brain while suspending all disbelief, and yet the public bought it. Hollywood even awarded it that golden statue for Best Animated Film. Millions made it a box office hit, taking in over $600 million. This rat-infested film is beloved and cherished. Ahh…RATATOUILLE…you stole my heart and inspired a generation to believe “anyone can cook.”
RATATOUILLE was Pixar’s first film at their new Disney studios. The animators brought in dozens of rats to observe their every movement. They even soaked a couple of artists in a pool of water to see how to draw wet clothes clinging to a body. They wanted every light and shadow to stand out. The lead rat, Remy, voiced by Patton Oswald, had 1.15 million hairs rendered on his body, while Colette, a human voiced by Janeane Garofalo, had only 115,009 hairs. This was painstaking work to get it right.
The entire ensemble of RATATOUILLE was phenomenal. Their superb voices gave this movie its heart and some very exciting, entertaining antagonists. Gusteau (Brad Garrett from EVERYONE LOVES RAYMOND catapulted the plot forward. He was the ghost who kept on giving even when he was just a figment of Remy’s imagination. Everyone probably wishes they could have a mentor like Gusteau in their lives.
Linguini (Lou Romano) was the wannabe chef who roller-skated better than stirring a ladle. He was perfectly cast. His “fumbling” voice gave him a fearful presence. Skinner (Ian Holm) was named after the famous scientist who always used rats for his scientific experiments. Anton Ego (Peter O’Toole) was the perfect food critic. “An average piece of junk probably has more value than a critic.” (This is harsh… says the movie critic.) Emile, Remy’s brother, was played by Peter Sohn, who was an animator at Pixar. Bird heard him talking, cast him, and then made sure always to stuff licorice into his mouth when recording for that hungry sound of chomping food.
Of course, Remy gave RATATOUILLE its passion and fiery enthusiasm. Patton was brilliant as the “little chef.” Lately, I have visions of my grandson, Aiden, cooking up a storm with his dad, Aaron. My son even responds to him when he asks for ingredients to stir into a bowl, as “chef” or sometimes the same phrase, “little chef.” This makes me smile and well up with tears. The kitchen often represents a myriad of emotions, including joy, laughter, delight, angst, and yearning. There are split seconds when watching RATATOUILLE that I even forget Remy is a rat. Ha… not a chance.
Brad Bird (THE INCREDIBLES, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE) was the genius behind this entire project. He is a prolific writer and a master at creating characters who stay etched within our memories for decades. His direction provided audiences with a positive affirmation on how to move forward in life. “Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.” And I so love that Bird lent himself as a cameo/easter egg surprise for viewers as Ambrister Minion. He is a man of many talents.
I must also mention the montages and action sequences through the back streets of Paris. They were fast-paced, fun, extremely detailed, and creatively expressed. The moments of Remy jumping off boats, barges, and buildings were amazing. It felt like audiences experienced the seedier side of this beautiful city.
RATATOUILLE is perfect storytelling. It is a family-friendly, comedic classic that is so much more than a film about a rat. It gives people hope about pursuing a career as an artist. It slows us down, teaching us ways to savor food. It helps us to appreciate relationships, no matter how absurd. It helps us to realize we can become or do anything. That’s a full plate of positivity and love. All right, dear readers, I admit I adore one rat, one rat, and one rat only.
RATATOUILLE is available on DISNEY+.
