Bianca Rodriguez
Professor Ciervo
Composition I
3 October 2021
Disney Cooks Up Another Classic
When one thinks of the perfect family film, one of the last kinds of films one may think of is a film depicting the chaotic, intense nature of the kitchen at a highly established restaurant in Paris. Ratatouille depicts exactly this from the perspective of a rat named Remy, who dreams of becoming a chef. The audience may wonder how rats, who in reality are known for rummaging through the scraps of a trash can, could be depicted with such sophisticated tastebuds and a keen eye for flavors. In classic Disney fashion, this is done well inside an exciting, heartfelt adventure.
Patton Oswalt, who portrays Remy the rat, does a fantastic job of embodying a rat who is tired of the gross, flavorless trash that he and his rat family have been eating for as long as he can remember. Remy dreams of experiencing different flavors, both on their own and in countless combinations. During his first time watching the legendary chef Auguste Gusteau’s final interview before his passing, Remy is immediately moved by Gusteau’s words:
Great cooking is not for the faint of heart. You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul. What I say is true. Anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great. (Ratatouille 00:08:48-00:09:09)
From that moment on, Remy dreams that he can prove Gusteau’s motto, that anyone can cook. Unfortunately, delicious food is something only humans can enjoy, according to the other rats. How could a rat become a chef?
Luckily for Remy, he meets a human who can bring him to the human world, and more importantly, the world of fine dining. The human he encounters is named Alfredo Linguini, played by Lou Romano, who’s voice is well-known in the Disney-Pixar circle. Linguini, who needs a job after the passing of his mother, finds himself landing a job as a garbage boy at the once acclaimed restaurant in Paris, Gusteau’s. After Gusteau’s passing, the restaurant’s notability took a toll as well under the new chef. Linguini’s awkwardness and lack of knowledge in the chef’s world is apparent as he hopelessly stumbles across the kitchen. Though Linguini does not have the expertise to become a chef on his own, Remy, however, becomes the missing piece to Linguini’s puzzle.
Remy, or “little chef”, as Linguini calls him, discovers he can control Linguini’s movements by tugging on strands of Linguini’s hair. The two immediately knew they could utilize this to their advantage. And soon, they would discover that Remy’s dish would become the most ordered dish at Gusteau’s. All was good for the pair; Remy could live his dream as a chef, something he never thought he could do as a rat, and Linguini could revive Gusteau’s status of being the finest restaurant in France.
Something Ratatouille captures beautifully is the romantic, dreamy atmosphere of Paris. In a grand landscape shot of Paris at night, Remy looks out to the beautifully lit Eiffel tower surrounded by the miniscule lights of the city (Ratatouille 00:17:00-00:17:23). This reminds the audience that Paris is known to be the city of love, as well as a city abundant with exquisite delicacies.
Another impressive moment in the film is the way Remy tastes food. This sequence is also presented in a stunning way, cinematographically speaking. Just before Remy takes a bite of his food, the screen turns black with just Remy in frame. When he takes the first bite, pops of color appear around him in the blank space around him. The color dances around the screen in sync with the music. Each flavor has its own color and music sequence, but when flavors are mixed together, the colors and music combine to form a visually stunning shot (Ratatouille 00:04:30-00:04:53).
Stepping into a global perspective, this motion picture may possibly challenge the audience’s perspective on how people treat rats as well as the ethicality of the use of rat poison. The film makes a point to include several scenes of Remy and his father discussing this topic and how it affects the rats’ trust with humans. Though Remy befriends a human, not all humans are open to treating rats well. Because the film attributes human characteristics to the rats, the audience may feel despair for them when these conversations between Remy and his father occur.
Disney brings a heartfelt film to the table, keeping it fresh with its fresh take on the chef’s world. This is a film that both children and adults can appreciate; from its lively characters, action-packed storytelling, and silly punchlines to its stunning shots, heartwarming moments, and inspiring message: anyone can cook! Undoubtedly, this film will quickly become a classic and a staple DVD for every family to own in their homes.
Works Cited
Ratatouille. Directed by Brad Bird, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2007. Disney Plus, www.disneyplus.com