Meet Remy! A Rat… well, not just a rat, a culinary genius, who like every genius goes through some hard times and has a few life-changing experiences before he gains due-recognition. The movie, an animation from Walt Disney and Pixar is all about how Remy, the rat follows his gut instinct and becomes a chef. His being a rat does not stop him from being a great cook.

Chef Gusteau, is a great cook in Paris who owns a five-star restaurant called Gusteau’s. He has also penned a cook book called “Anyone can Cook!” and he truly believes so. Unfortunately, a very harsh food-critic, Anton Ego gives him a thumbs-down, and calls it an average place to eat. Gusteau’s loses a star. Heart broken, the chef dies and this causes the loss of another star.

Now, Remy with his culinary skills is very much against stealing and eating “garbage”. He has a secret life. Known only to his brother Emile, Remy enters a human kitchen and gets some ingredients and practices cooking. Under certain turn of events, the rats are chased away from their home. Remy follows with his favorite cook book, but loses his way and his family and friends. His imaginary friend Chef Gusteau leads him to Gusteau’s restaurant where he meets Linguini a garbage boy in the kitchen. Lingiuni is made a chef, with Remy’s help, he turns out to be a great one at that. Remy discovers that he can handle Linguini like a puppet. (must watch funny sequences). Collete, yes, there is the missing element, another chef , the only girl in the kitchen becomes his mentor. There is a head chef, Skinner who hates Linguini (obviously!). Remy goes through a struggle in his personal life when he meets his family again only to realize that his dreams will never be understood by his father. He leaves to join Linguini and fulfill his dreams.
Further on, we find that Linguini is Gusteau’s son and gets possession of the restaurant, despite of all the attempts by Skinner. Anton Ego decides to revisit the restaurant after reading the reviews by other food critics. Remy impresses him with a dish called Ratatouille. Anton Ego is floored and meets Remy. While they wait in fear, Anton Ego writes a touching review. Gusteau’s is shut down by the health inspector who saw the rats preparing the dishes.
Finally, all’s well when Anton Ego supports Linguini and they open their own restaurant. Remy has his own rat restaurant and still makes “Ratatouille” for Anton Ego to enjoy.

Ta-Da! The happy end.

What I love is the story, the rat and the animation. Such expressions that the humans in the movie become a back-drop and stand slightly gray in memory. Altogether, an entertainer.
Catch it to remind yourself that there is a kid in all of us. And it shines through at times when we enjoy the silliest and simplest of life’s pleasures.