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Not to forget that we're talking about an animated rat but...

24.85.153.141

In Reply to: RE: Ratatouille, the best 8 bucks I've spent in a long time. posted by halfnote on June 30, 2007 at 21:18:47

The central character IS the rat and a very well-drawn and strong chap he is. He changed his life for the better through a bit of luck and strong sense of will/purpose.

I saw Linguine as the foil or vehicle (figuratively and literally) for Remy the rats ambitions and drive to be more than he was, that they become friends and both are better off at the end is also pleasant. One of the characters had to be the lesser of the partnership (think Dean and Jerry), that it was the human fits well in this type of film IMO.

Then there was the whole subversive outsider vibe and familial complications sub-plot that Remy was dealing with, the powerful and overbearing father, Rat Society expectations and obligations etc.

Is it a young kids movie? I don't really think so but there is enough slap stick and gags to keep them entertained. I love food and worked in a French kitchen while in school so there were a few familiar faces that brought back memories for me, that might be why I connected the way I did.

J.B.

Follow Ups:

RE: Not to forget that we're talking about an animated rat but... - halfnote 22:21:51 07/01/07 (0)
Agree that the rat was really the central character of the film. And your point about Linguine being a foil for the rat is well taken. I still think Linguine amounts to a somewhat weak main character that prevents the film from being really outstanding, despite the many strong points you make. To me, the film languishes with a bit with him on the screen, and he's on it a lot. Maybe it's just that the foil gets too much attention and kind of diminishes our exposure to the hero himself.

With regard to animation versus real film, I don't think it makes a bit of difference character-wise. The information is conveyed to us differently, by animators rather than directly by actors. But the idea of character and what it means to the cinematic formula is no different. In fact, I find many of the characters in animated movies SUPERIOR to those in some live-action films -- even better acted.
Agree totally! (nt) - Audiophilander 22:03:19 06/30/07 (0)
(nt)

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