Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute rat tale has some peril and potentially scary moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ratatouille
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 80 parent reviews
Parents say that while some viewers appreciate the film for its heartwarming messages about following dreams and hard work, many express serious concerns regarding its suitability for children. Common criticisms include the depiction of violence, inappropriate romantic content, and dark themes that could confuse or upset younger audiences, leading to a divided reception among parents regarding its rating and overall content.
- confusion for kids
- inappropriate themes
- violence concerns
- positive messages
- mixed reception
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 162 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a vibrant and entertaining exploration of culinary dreams featuring charming visuals, humor, and relatable messages. However, there are mixed feelings about some mature themes, including mild violence and language, which some parents feel might not be suitable for very young children, while many agree it's a heartfelt experience suitable for the family.
- vibrant visuals
- humorous storytelling
- mild violence
- family suitable
- heartfelt messages
- culinary themes
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
RATATOUILLE follows the culinary adventures of Remy (voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt), a unique rat who can't stomach eating garbage. He wants the good stuff -- truffle oil and fine artisan cheeses -- which brands him the snobby black sheep of his crew. After Remy's family is driven from their habitat by a gun-toting grandma, he emerges onto the streets of Paris, where he's visited by the ghost of renowned, recently deceased uber-chef Gusteau (Brad Garrett), who was famous for the populist saying "Anyone can cook." Remy is drawn to Gusteau's now three-star restaurant (it lost a star after Gusteau died), where he feels right at home ... before being sighted and nearly killed by flying knives. Remy, quick with the spices, saves young kitchen helper Linguini (Lou Romano) from ruining the soup of the day, and the two form an odd-couple bond. From then on, Remy becomes part Mister Miyagi, part puppeteer as he helps Linguini cook up delicious specials that put Gusteau's back on the culinary map. But as Linguini soaks in his new fame as the chef du jour, Remy grows increasingly bitter that someone else is taking credit for his recipes. The film's nemeses are Gusteau's new head chef -- an angry little dictator (Ian Holm) who wants to make millions selling a line of prepackaged frozen foods -- and Anton Ego (Peter O'Toole), a food critic who loves writing negative reviews.
Is It Any Good?
The story doesn't have the emotional depth of The Incredibles or Finding Nemo, but the animation is every bit as dazzling. Every scene of the chefs shredding, peeling, dicing, and stirring is vibrant and layered. And the moment Ego tastes the titular dish is so delicious a visual reference that it deserves to be a surprise. Kids may ultimately favor the child-centric appeal of Toy Story or the vroom-vroom adventure of Cars, but grown-ups will find a reason to ask for seconds of Ratatouille.
At this point, it's pretty much a given that families and young children will line up to see anything made by Pixar, which seems incapable of producing a dud. But Ratatouille, like director Brad Bird's family adventure The Incredibles, is the rare animated film that could just as easily captivate an audience full of childless adults. Granted, the world of haute French cuisine is an unlikely setting for a kid-friendly flick, but Bird makes it irresistible.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what made kids want to see Ratatouille. Does it matter that the title is hard to spell/pronounce or that the main characters are rats?
Do kids know the Pixar brand name? Does that make them more likely to want to see a movie?
Families also can discuss the film's theme: pretending to be something you're not. Linguini takes credit for Remy's cooking ideas to look like a chef, and Remy turns away from his rat family to be with his human friends and eat good food. How does pretending catch up to each of them?
How do the characters in Ratatouille demonstrate perseverance and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 28, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : November 6, 2007
- Cast : Brad Garrett , Lou Romano , Patton Oswalt
- Director : Brad Bird
- Studio : Pixar Animation Studios
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Cooking
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : December 21, 2025
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