A rat named Remy lives in Paris and likes to taste and smell whatever he likes due to his heightened senses. However, the rest of the colony that Remy belongs to are the opposite. They will only eat what is necessary and avoid humans at all cost since they are deemed dangerous to rats.

That includes Remy’s older brother, Emile, and his father, Django, who is the leader of the clan. Although Emile is enthusiastic, Django is strict. Yet he is also caring for both his sons.

At some point, though, there is a flood that happens. All the rats get separated from Remy.

Poor Remy is now all alone with no one to talk to – except for an imaginary ghost of Chef Auguste Gusteau. He was a celebrity chef that Remy deeply admired.

Even though his ghost isn’t real, he still encourages Remy to follow his dreams. Remy discovers a fancy restaurant, where there is a young man named Alfredo Linguini taking out the trash.

Not long after, Remy spots Linguine struggling to make leek soup. In addition, his co-workers and boss, Skinner, are not very nice to him – particularly because of his lack of experience working in a restaurant.

So, Remy decides to secretly add some ingredients to the leek soup. Surprisingly, the food critic outside the kitchen actually likes it.

Now he and all the other staff want Linguini to make that same soup again using the exact same recipe. But Linguini does not know how.

Yet he needs the job to support himself. So, he has to avoid getting fired.

Back at his apartment, Linguini meets Remy, who only makes natural rodent squeaks to him. After getting acquainted, Linguini lets Remy help him out at his job. He even calls him little chef.

When Linguini needs to prepare the same soup, Remy hides in his chef hat to secretly give him instructions. However, he is constantly biting Linguini over each error.

Linguini goes into a private room and scolds Remy for that. Yet he decides to give him another chance.

However, Skinner catches Linguini in that room. Not only does he force him to return to work, but he also notices hints of Remy the rat.

Remy controls Linguini by pulling on his hair like reins on a horse. Linguini is assigned to work with the only female chef, Collette. She is very tough and has a strict no-nonsense attitude when assisting Linguini. Yet she remains helpful.

Sometime later, Remy is reunited with Emile, Django, and the rest of his colony. They are all so happy to see him.

But when Remy reveals that he has been in a restaurant with people, Django shows him dead rats trapped in rodent traps. He is trying to admonish Remy about the dangers of humans and what they do to rats.

Regardless of that, Remy dismisses his father’s warning about people and walks away.

Meanwhile, Skinner discovers in an old letter that Linguini is actually the son of Chef Gusteau. Shocked and unwilling to believe it, he hides the letter.

But Remy later finds it and gives it to Linguini. Recognizing his new status, Linguini fires Skinner. He even becomes popular amongst his coworkers.

But then everyone wants to know his secret about being a good cook. Remy is hesitant to reveal that a rat has been helping him, no matter how hard he tries to say it.

Even worse, stakes are starting to rise for both Linguini and Remy. What is going to happen next?

This movie drew me in all the way through. It was also quite funny. I laughed several times throughout it.

Remy was likable as was his family and clan. Linguini was also lovable. I admired his friendship with Remy and how they worked together in that restaurant.

Like many other films featuring talking animals, this one was no different with the rats only speaking to each other and making their natural sounds to humans. Yet I admired how Remy used body language to communicate with Linguini and confirmed that he could understand him.

Although Collette was tough, Linguini appreciated her and even developed feelings for her. Skinner was very easy to dislike.

But he does give Linguini wine. And despite the movie’s G rating, Linguini does get drunk and say silly things. That really cracked me up.

But earlier in the story, an old lady was shooting Remy and the other rats with a gun. Not only is that excessive and unnecessary, but it’s a bit much for a family-friendly movie.

Another flaw was how the pacing was sometimes a little too slow. Yet it was more often just right.

Overall, I enjoyed Ratatouille. It is a fun tale with lots of humor, memorable characters, and essential morals.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.