History YMMV / Ratatouille

* UnfortunateImplications: The rats value quantity over quality; they see food as fuel, they have no appreciation of fine cuisine, and they only want to eat as much as they can, consume and expand. And apart from Linguini, they're the only characters in the movie with American accents...

* {{Applicability}}: Known as "''TheFountainhead'' With Cooking In Place Of Architecture" in [[UsefulNotes/{{Objectivism}} Objectivist]] circles, due to its protagonist longing to use his talent not for altruistic purposes like checking food for poison but "to make things, to add something to this world," his mentor who was a genius in his field and once considered the best but eventually fell from grace due to his unorthodox methods, its villain being an evil critic who likes to write trolling reviews ForTheEvulz, and its message that "not everyone can be a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere."

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Horst. [[ShroudedInMyth Guess why.]]

** Also FridgeBrilliance: Ego loves the ratatouille so much because it is ''exactly like how his mother used to make it''.

* DesignatedHero: Colette is establsihed by complaining how hard it is for a woman to succeed, yet we never see any of the male chefs show her any disrespect or treat her badly merely because she is female. Also, she seems to slap Linguini an awful lot.

* DidNotDoTheResearch: A mistake comes from the fact that, while the ratatouille is indeed the GameBreaker of culinary delight, it takes half a day to be correctly prepared (you need to prepare each vegetable separately, cook them at a very low heat in order to get rid of the excess of water without burning them, then saute them again together, once or in some case even twice...), yet Rémy manage to improvise one in very short notice: being a genius is not enough, you should need to [[RealityWarper twist the time to your whims]] to make it work.
** Well, Ratatouille ''was'' on their menu, so it's possible they had most of the ingredients prepared just in case someone ordered it.
** The dish Rémy makes isn't the traditional version. It's an interpretation of Ratatouille that Thomas Keller made up (or, if you prefer, Michael Guerard made up and Thomas Keller refined), it doesn't involve cooking each type of vegetable separately, and while it does take several hours and probably wouldn't be appropriate to make completely à la minute in a restaurant, its cooking time doesn't even begin to approach half a day. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confit_bayaldi See]] [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/dining/131rrex.html?_r=2 for yourself]].

* IAmNotShazam: The film's title comes from a dish featured in the movie's climax (and the obvious pun on "rat"), not from any of the characters.

* PeripheryDemographic: ''{{The Onion}}'' AV Club noted that that this movie has a cult following amongst artists of all media, because it is one of the best at capturing the joy of creation.

* AccidentalNightmareFuel: The rat-catcher's shop, which is a RealLife store in Paris.
** Whenever the rats appear in large groups. First there's the scene where the old lady shoots down her ceiling, revealing that ALL the rats have been living [[{{Squick}} IN HER ROOF.]] Then there's the bit near the end where a swarm of rats chase the health inspector, ''swarm over his car'' (with him inside), interfere with the car's mechanics, and eventually bring him back, bound and gagged, to the kitchen, where they lock him in the freezer for who knows how long!

** Also FridgeBrilliance: Ego loves the ratatouille so much because it is ''excatly like how his mother used to make it''.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_hdmt4vpBo "Le Festin"]]. For extra heartwarming, look at the line for Linguini and Colette's new restaurant in the finale; one of the women in line is singing the song to her boyfriend.

* NightmareFuel: The rat-catcher's shop, which is a RealLife store in Paris.
** Whenever the rats appear in large groups. First there's the scene where the old lady shoots down her ceiling, revealing that ALL the rats have been living [[{{Squick}} IN HER ROOF.]] Then there's the bit near the end where a swarm of rats chase the health inspector, ''swarm over his car'' (with him inside), interfere with the car's mechanics, and eventually bring him back, bound and gagged, to the kitchen, where they lock him in the freezer for who knows how long!

** If you look at the translated lyrics, you'll see that the song is basically a theme for Remy and the film; the tale of a thief who hates stealing while feeling that there wasn't a choice in the matter. Later on, the thief achieves freedom and a new start in life through his determination and passion.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: Colette's opening speech/rant to Linguini, swiftly followed by her tough love TrainingMontage with the new garbage boy.
-->Here, let me make it easy to remember. Keep your station clear...or I WILL KILL YOU!
** And possibly Ego's "perspective" line. It was badass in a more subdued way.
** Rémy's dad gets a [=CMOA=] when he rallies the rat colony to replace the kitchen staff. Always brings a tear to my eye.
--->"We're not cooks... but we ''are'' family."
* CrowningMomentOfFunny
-->'''Skinner:''' Welcome to Hell.
** Perhaps a PrecisionFStrike for some MoralGuardians, which makes it even better.
** Also a potential Shout Out to [[HellsKitchen a certain show]].
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: Ego's finale review of Gusteau's. Yes the restaurant was closed by health inspectors, but it's truly incredible if you don't come out of that monologue feeling inspired, or with a new respect for some critics, to a degree.
** Don't forget Ego's {{Flashback}} upon actually tasting Rémy's ratatouille. If that [[BestYearsOfYourLife sunny kitchen]] and the warm, reassuring smile of [[DotingParent Anton's mother]] as she cheers her son up with a bowl of homemade soup don't melt your heart... No wonder he gave them a rave review.

-->Let me make this simple. Keep your station clear or I WILL KILL YOU.

DidNotDoTheResearch: A mistake comes from the fact that, while the ratatouille is indeed the GameBreaker of culinary delight, it takes half a day to be correctly prepared (you need to prepare each vegetable separately, cook them at a very low heat in order to get rid of the excess of water without burning them, then saute them again together, once or in some case even twice...), yet Rémy manage to improvise one in very short notice: being a genius is not enough, you should need to [[RealityWarper twist the time to your whims]] to make it work.
*** Well, Ratatouille ''was'' on their menu, so it's possible they had most of the ingredients prepared just in case someone ordered it.
*** The dish Rémy makes isn't the traditional version. It's an interpretation of Ratatouille that Thomas Keller made up (or, if you prefer, Michael Guerard made up and Thomas Keller refined), it doesn't involve cooking each type of vegetable separately, and while it does take several hours and probably wouldn't be appropriate to make completely à la minute in a restaurant, its cooking time doesn't even begin to approach half a day. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confit_bayaldi See]] [[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/dining/131rrex.html?_r=2 for yourself]].