There are many subtle jokes that will delight you. I will say more about that below, but if you are a 'foodie,' don't miss this movie. As well, this movie is a complete delight for anyone who has an interest in the food world.

Suffice it to say that the story is told simply and well enough to be thoroughly enjoyed by children while carrying complex food for thought that adults may well ponder long after the movie is finished.

This is a far from simple set of conflicts, especially for a children's movie, and yet my desire to avoid spoilers leaves the list incomplete.

Conflict arises not only from Remy's need to be hidden and yet guide Linguine, but from the animosity of the head chef, Linguine's romantic interest in the the kitchen's one female chef, the need for the restaurant to regain their five star rating which depends upon the approbation of food critic Anton Ego, and Remy's desire to be understood by his family while being able to express his art. Together the two begin to amaze diners at the Parisian restaurant of the late chef, Auguste Gusteau. Circumstances team him up with Lingune, a hapless plongeur (dishwasher and kitchen assistant), who is trying hard to hold onto his job. Remy, the rat, has a love and appreciation for good food that is not shared by the rest of his family who see nothing wrong with eating garbage in all stages of decomposition. Noncooks think it's silly to invest two hours' work in two minutes' enjoyment but if cooking is evanescent, so is the ballet. I thought that nothing could equal The Incredibles, Brad Bird's most recent offering, but he has matched that, if not surpassed it. Obviously they did not fail to please this time. Such is the power Pixar can induce in those who have learned that they have that most special of talents, the ability to make a good general audience movie that pleases everyone on many levels. We were at the 4:00 movie specifically because Rose, 17, would not be able to make it over the weekend due to work schedules. Hannah, 18, had rearranged a date in order to make the movie with us. In fact, we ourselves were part of that demographic. More unusually, in a movie marketed to children, this audience was three-fourths adults, adults of all ages. Perhaps the rest of the audience, like us, had tried in vain to get into an earlier showing only to find it sold out. It was a 4:00 movie but the theater was full. We watched Ratatouille under unusual circumstances. The audience around me, without my reservations, burst into applause anyway. When 'Fin' came up on the screen, I suppressed an impulse to applaud.

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