Is This the Most Trailed Movie Ever?

Ratatouille - 4/5

Pixar's last movie, Cars, was a solid effort - one of best animated films of last year with beautiful animation and a good, if somewhat unspectacular story. It was also a commercial success. It is a mark of the standards that Pixar have set that this was considered something of a crushing disappointment.

So what of their latest effort - Ratatouille seems to have been being trailed like forever. At least since before the release of Cars well over a year ago. So it come as something of a relief that it's actually arrived. This in itself might be symptomatic of a slightly troubled production history. Its also the only film I've ever seen to arrive with a pronounciation guide for the title. But, is it any good?

The answer would have to be a yes. Whilst its not quite in the class of the true Pixar classics like The Incredibles or Toy Story 2, it does mark a solid return to form. It is well documented that what Pixar grasp better than most of their rivals is that the secret of a good animatec film is not the animation, but the story and the characters. Here they hit upon a great story - the rat (Remy) with a refined palette who dreams of becoming a chef and the friendship he form with un-culinary restaurant garbage boy Linguini in order to help him fulfill his dreams.

It's actually a good job the story is so strong as the lead characters are, by Pixar standards, a wee bit dull. That said, the supporting characters are the usual rich assortment - watch out in particular for the Peter O'Toole voiced food critic Anton Ego. There are also some stunning set pieces - like the preparation of the final meal by a kitchen full of rats - and some clever humour in the dialogue (some of the exchanges between Remy and his imaginary image of masterchef Gusteau are a particular delight). The quality of the animation is as usual superb and if there are maybe one or two too many scenes of Remy scampering around to avoid being flattened, the whole is so entertaining and charming that you'll easily forgive.

Oh, and the accompanying short, Lifted, contains more humour in a few minutes than certain 'comedies' do in their entire run time.

So not quite a true Pixar classic, but still a very good animated film with at least as much for adults as for children.