For all the big summer blockbusters coming out - I figure it's high time for a little movie review. Last Saturday I saw Ratatouille in Spokane with Stacey.

Animation: 4 out of 5
Stunning. I was blown out of the water with Cars, which represented a huge leap forward in Pixar's abilities to me. So, to get a full 5 this film would have to push the envelope even further. Unfortunately, it doesn't. Unlike Cars, this movie doesnt' have a lot of opportunities to show off its awesome visual stunnery. However - to the film's credit, the blend of stylism and realism is very well done. Villans look like villans and heroes look like heroes; and the surface shading is great. Don't get me wrong - Disney would be sunk in the animation department were it not for these people. I just feel like the next Pexar film had better make that "jump" again.

Plot: 5 out of 5
Cute. Cute cute cute. Honestly, I wasn't suspecting a love interest in this film; but it turned out to be well-woven into the main plot and tastefully done (unlike other Disney movies where the love interest IS the plot). I'd like to tell you that this film was totally original and so craftily written that you have no idea what lies around the next bend; but the truth is that I was too swept up in enjoying myself to try to think ahead. This movie has all your standard Disney themes: importance of family, respecting your friends, and rising to conquer a great challenge. Thankfully, in this film you don't feel like it's a morality tale; you just kind of realize, five minutes from the end what you've been watching.

Voice Acting: 4 out of 5
Peter O'toole, Jeneane Garofolo, and Patton Oswalt all give honest and stunning performances in this movie. O'toole does such a good job at being a villan that I didn't even recognize his voice until I heard him being kind and gentle in the end. He was so grand and moving I was conjuring up mental images of the Lion in Winter. Garofolo does a great french accent, plus she's both cynical and sensitive enough at the same time for the part. Oswalt's timing is good, it's just no different from his regular voice; just listen to any stand-up special of his and the intonations are the same. It's not bad - I just wasn't surprised.

Humor/Embellishments: 5 out of 5
Let's be honest - the real reason it's a joy to watch modern Pixar films is the fact that an army of writers and animators work really hard for years and years to make the final product. The only possible result after so much effort is a rich and lusutrous setting and ambiance for the film. The use of humor is sometimes subtle and somewhat overt.
EX1: In the middle of a press conference, the lead and his gal exit early :"I'm sorry to be
rude....but we're French".
EX2: After the antagonist finally figures out that rats are running the kitchen, they gag ang hog-tie him. Also they throw him in the meat locker.

So overall, I give it 4.5 out of 5. We both had to leave at least once during the film to use the facilities; but that was from drinking earlier. If I could have held it, I know I would have. It was very pleasant, and I'll be looking for it on DVD when it comes out.