Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Ratatouille impressions

We saw this, mind you, after a very full day of hiking, fishing, and funning. And I'm very, very old, and just a wee bit short on sleep. So, having said that:

I've heard good things about Ratatouille, and have been looking forward to seeing it with my family. Last night my seven-year-old son, Valerie, and I saw it.

In short, Jonathan loved it, and Valerie and I thought it was just okay. Marvelous animation, as always with Pixar, and some chuckles -- but we actually were a bit bored.

It contains nothing offensive, the rat -- who you'd think would be the least sympathetic character -- is charming, and the music score is clever and provides fitting punctuation.

Apart from that, we just found nothing remarkable about it, unlike the Toy Story movies, The Incredibles, and Monsters, Inc. Victims of high expectations? Possibly. But there you have it.

Soon, maybe I'll tell you what I thought of Evan Almighty.

ADDENDUM: I figured out a major reason why the movie didn't work better for me. It was the human protagonist. My wife, with her wonderful gift for conciseness, said it best: "He's just an idiot." Yep. The other Pixar movies as a rule present 3D sympathetic protagonists. This one doesn't. He's a stumbling, clueless cipher, rescued largely by a rat and a woman, and no wiser for it.

6 comments:

Neil said...

What I'm eagerly anticipating is your review of ootp.

David A. Carlson said...

What, you have seen EAM? Pfft, your a slacker. Most christian bloggers took a wack at it before it came out.

Kay said...

is this a movie blog now? :-)

I'm looking foward to hearing about Evan Almighty. Do they warn people to turn from their sin because of the coming judgement of God. 'Cos, like, I can't really see the humour factor in that...

Rev. said...

Came across your blog as a result of it being listed on "Baptist Blogs & Bloggers." I've never heard of a "Calvidispiebaptogelical" before, but I hope that doctor is able to give you something for it. :)

Like you, I really like the previous Pixar flicks (e.g., 'Toy Story', 'The Incredibles'), but found this one to be on a lower plane. It was better than 'Meet the Robinsons', but it seems that since Disney bought Pixar the mojo is gone.

Short Thoughts said...

"Last night my seven-year-old son, Valerie, and I saw it."

Whew! For a minute there, I thought you named your son Valerie.

Jeff

DJP said...

Eats shoots and leaves.

(Could have been a Russian name, you know.)