typeamom
AshevilleAsheville, NC
Foodie moms will love taking their kids!
5 star rating

former resident of France, foodie mom, too busy to go to movie theaters, frequent Paris visitor, very picky about kids films, a travel & lifestyles writer, mother of three, family traveler
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Pros

    fun for both kids and adults, great movie for francophiles, great movie for foodies, teaches kids about fine cuisine, teaches kids about Paris, great scenes with Paris sights


JUL
15
2007

Ratatouille — 

Before I even went to this movie, I made up my mind. My daughter was going to like this movie. It was about food, it was about Paris, the Eiffel Tower is right there in the previews, and a fab French dish name is the title.

What surprised me was how much I loved this movie. I expected it to be more tolerable than your typical animated children's movie fare. But I would go see this movie again - alone! Even though it's animated, they really did the city of Paris justice. When they showed Remy, the chef/rat, running around along the banks of the Seine, I felt like I was transformed back there.

The story itself is just fun. You don't have to be a kid to enjoy the story of a protagonist with a seemingly-impossible dream who ends up in Paris and pursues it. There are also some wonderful messages about not judging people (or rats) by their appearance.

What I really loved, though, was all the references that are most enjoyable for a foodie mom (or dad). They show the inside of a fine Paris restaurant's kitchen and how that operates.

There are some incredible scenes in which Remy tries to explain to his foodie-challenged brother about appreciating cuisine. He illustrated the experience of tasting a fine cheese and mushroom with music and dazzling art. Pure genius.

If you have kids, if you love food, if you love Paris, I just have one thing to say: you MUST see this movie. Oh, and your kids will love it, too.

Last edited on Feb 05, 2008



I_thumb_up Ratatouille is recommended by typeamom

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about typeamom’s Review

 


AngelaWLaFon wrote on Feb 14, 2008 at 9:32PM

Charming review! I teach kid's cooking classes so I am up for this theme! Thanks.

Hostalover wrote on Dec 30, 2007 at 8:43PM

I was relating to the food industry aspects of it, but your review increases my awareness of the setting in Paris. We own it now and are having a movie night to re-watch it, ages 2-40ish. Thanks for your point of view. By the way, my son wanted to cook as soon as we got home from the theatre!

Cat wrote on Aug 26, 2007 at 8:57AM

We love Paris, and the whole country really, so I'm waiting excitedly for this movie to come out on DVD. We don't even have kids, I just want to watch it because I'm a foodie who loves Paris! :-D Great review!

CyndiA wrote on Jul 23, 2007 at 7:55PM

Gota catch this one. Thanks for the review. Hadn't heard of this one.