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his resulting scathing review was blamed for causing the great chef's premature death. And given Ego's reputation, he makes it clear he will never give a break to an unknown kid with no apparent culinary training.

Underscoring everything is the basic conflict between rats and humans... and one rat and one human in particular. The human partner Linguini is under the constant pressure of pretending to be someone he isn't - a great chef. He must hide Remy's presence, yet keep the little rat happy and the partnership strong. In addition, he must appear decisive to his kitchen staff and he must please the intimidating Anton Ego. And exactly what is Remy trying to be anyway, rat or human? This gives the film a dramatic tension throughout; the requisite happy ending cannot be reached until all these conflicts are resolved.

What is Ratatouille's message? Anton Ego discovers it in his final review: "In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain of Chef Gusteau's famous motto anyone can cook.' But I realize only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist. But a great artist can come from anywhere." Even from the humblest of origins with the biggest of dreams.

Ratatouille has become one of my favorite movies. Of course, like any animated feature, full enjoyment requires a certain suspension of disbelief. If you can convince yourself that a rat can walk on hind legs, read, and comprehend humans, you will have no trouble becoming immersed in the story. Given this requisite suspension, it's not the most noble tale in the classical sense or the most action-packed. It's simply fun. All characters are well designed and their motives are obvious. They emote well; you can actually see Remy think! Director Brad Bird makes Remy and Linguini underdogs worth rooting for. The story moves quickly, from the French countryside to Paris to the restaurant and all points in between. The ending is satisfying and uplifting.

In short, it's a joy to watch.

Learn more about this author, Bob Welbaum.
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