There was a time when cartoons were made for adults. In some parts of the world, that’s still done, but here in the U.S. it’s often a foreign concept. But Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Droopy and many other classics were made primarily for adults. It’s nice to see that there’s a company who knows that animation doesn’t have to be potty-humor pop-culture kick-in-the-crotch jokes to entertain kids, but that animation can be used to tell engaging, interesting stories that entertain the entire family. Ratatouille is such a film, and it’s not to be missed.

Once again Pixar has shown why it leads the pack when it comes to CG animation. Apart from its technical skills, which always seems to be one step (or in the case of this movie, maybe a couple steps) ahead of the competition, Pixar also knows how to create interesting characters in an engaging story. The concept of Ratatouille is one that shouldn’t work (not unlike Cars, which some believe didn’t work anyway). A rat who wants to be a chef and does so by controlling a young man who can’t cook to save his life: it’s an unproven concept with little name recognition (you can’t even pronounce the name without phonetic spelling) competing in one of the most crowded summer seasons jam-packed with big name sequels. Only Pixar would be daring enough to try, and whether or not the boxoffice reflects it, I think they have succeeded. Ratatouille is easily the most enjoyable film I’ve seen this summer, and one that I’m looking forward to seeing again and owning on DVD.

I’m so grateful that Pixar doesn’t just cast people because they’re famous, but because they’re right for the part. Every character is perfectly cast in this film, and whether or not you recognize any of the names of the actors, the important part is they all deliver pitch-perfect vocal performances for their characters. Add that to a level of technical wizardry that once again raises the bar, and it’s easy to get lost in Ratatouille. That the characters are interesting and the plot (while admittedly thin) moves along at a brisk pace are just more of the elements that show this film was handled with deft hands and a creative touch. The only thing I noted as somewhat bothersome is that the heroes of this picture, set in Paris, France, sound remarkably American. Granted, one can never know what accent a rat should have, but if at least his human counter-part would have had a French accent or vice versa, I would have found that less jarring. The fact that the bad guy and the love interest are the ones who sound French is a bit distracting. But considering that’s the worse thing I can say about this movie, that’s not so bad.

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and director Brad Bird proves that brilliantly in one key scene in this film. With just a few images, we feel and understand exactly what a character is experiencing. That’s filmmaking at its best, and regardless of the fact that this is an animated film, I believe that still holds true. Ratatouille may not be the biggest, flashiest, or easiest film to pronounce this summer, but it’s a pure joy to experience. The fact that it might actually get you thinking about your place in this world, what your purpose is and how you can discover your purpose (here’s a hint, check the Bible: it tells you what you were made for), that’s all just icing on the cake.