Ratatouille

Actor Ian Holm. (2007) Walt Disney Video. Rated G. B000VBJEEG.

PLOT SUMMARY

Remy is a rat obsessed with gourmet food. He is forced from his home and befriends Linguini, a garbage boy in a fancy restaurant. Remy can cook and Linguini is clueless in the kitchen, but together they create fantastic dishes that deserve to win awards. This doesn't last long when an esteemed food critic comes to dine.

CRITICAL EVALUATION

Good graphics. Interesting twist using a rat, the complete embodiment of all that is dirty and unhealthy, as the hero and food loving chef.

Lots of unsavory characters, conflict between Linguini and the staff, and Linguini and Remy keeps the audience riveted.

READERS' ANNOTATION

When Remy the food obsessed gourmand rat gets separated from his family during their flee from their home, he finds himself in the heart of food culture--Paris, France. He teams up with Linguini, a garbage boy working in the restaurant of Remy's food idol. Wanting to live up to the expectations of the restaurant, he directs Linguini's cooking by sitting under Linguini's chef's hat and manipulating him like a puppet. That is until they and the rat army helping in the kitchen are discovered and their whole world comes tumbling down.

GENRE

Fiction

CURRICULUM TIES

Research/discuss the cultures of the world and their foods. How is food integral to the shaping of those cultures?

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE

4 and over

CHALLENGE ISSUES

none

WHY INCLUDE THIS MOVIE?

The relationship that people have with their food is an interesting one. Savvy eaters, junk food lovers, health nuts, there is so much to explore. I like how the gourmet aspect is presented to an audience that might otherwise be satisfied with a burger and shake.