Alotofanimatedmovieshaveinspiredsequels,notably"Shrek,"butBradBird's"Ratatouille"isthefirstonethatmademepositivelydesireone.Remy,theearnestlittleratwhoisitshero,issuchalovable,determined,giftedrodentthatIwanttoknowhappenstohimnext,nowthathehasconqueredthesummitofFrenchcuisine.Ithinkrunningforofficemightnotbebeyondhisreach,andthere'scertainlysomethingdeGaulleanabouthissnout.

　　Remyisamemberofalargefamilyofrats(ahorde,Ithink,istheword)whoplythetrashcansandsewersofaParisiansuburb,justlikegoodratsshould."Eatyourgarbage!"commandsRemy'sfather,Django,obviouslyalovingparent.Theratsareevictedfromtheircozyhomeinacottage-kitchenceilinginascenethatwillhaverat-hatersintheaudiencecringing(andwhoamonguswillclaimtheydon'thateratsmorethanalittle?),andtheyaresweptthroughthesewersinatorrentialflood.

　　Remy(voiceofPattonOswalt)hasalwaysbeenblessed,orcursed,witharefinedpalateandasensitivenose,andnowhestartsskulkingaroundthekitchenofGusteau,hisculinaryhero(voiceofBradGarrett).

　　LinguiniandRemymeet,somehowestablishtrustandcommunication,andwhenLinguinigetscreditforasoupthattherathassavedwithstrategicseasonings,theyteamup.

　　Allofthisbeginsasadubiouspremiseandendsasatriumphofanimation,comedy,imaginationand,yes,humanity.WhatismostlovableaboutRemyishismodestyandshyness,evenforarat.Hehasbodylanguagesoexpressivethanmanyhumanswouldtradeforit.

　　BradBirdandhisexecutiveproducer,JohnLasseter,clearlyhavetakenovertheleadershipintheanimationfieldrightnow.Yes,Birdmade"TheIncredibles,"buttheonethatgotawaywashiswonderful"TheIronGiant,"inwhichatoweringrobotwasassubtle,gentleandtouchingasRemy.Hiseyefordetailisremarkable.Everypropandutensilandspiceandingredientinthekitchenisalmosttangible,andIforonewouldneverturnofftheFoodChannelifRemyhostedaprogramnamed"AnyRatCanCook."

　　Thisisclearlyoneofthebestoftheyear'sfilms.Everytimeananimatedfilmissuccessful,youhavetoreadalloveragainabouthowanimationisn't"justforchildren"but"forthewholefamily,"and"evenforadultsgoingontheirown."Nokidding!

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　　AnyoneCanCook

　　Noteveryonecanbecomeagreatartistbutgreatartistcancomefromanywhere.---ratatouille

　　Inratatouille,Remyisaspecialratewholikescook.Theunusualratebringsanunusualexperience.WorkingtogetherwithapersonwhoisthesonofChefGusteau’s,Remycanbeacookforpeople.Ifsomeonewantstodosomethingheisdesired,evensahumblerate,healsohaspowertomakeit.

　　Justasthecriticsaidinratatouille,“It'sdifficulttoimaginemorehumbleoriginthanthoseofgeniusnowcookingattheGusteau’s,whois,inthiscritic'sopinion,nothinglessthanthefinestchefinFrance.”Remywasjustarate,hisstatuswaslookeddownonbyhumanbeings.ChefGusteauhasagreatmottothatis“Anyonecancook”.ThisideaimpressedRemyalot.TheratenamedRemywasencouragedbytheideaofChefGusteau’sanditsown,andstarteditsnewlifeasacook.Atfirst,itwasbehindthecurtain;butfinallyhewasrecognizedbyothersviahisstruggleandfaithofbeingacook.HisexperienceletsusrealizeChefGusteau'sfamousmotto.

　　“Notev