This movie is great, the subtleties and wide audience appeal are what sets thie movie apart from recent Disney movies. Brad Bird has a knack for appealing to adults and kids, WITHOUT offensive humor, or dumbing down the plot.
The animation is at it's best here, and shows that Pixar is always improving itself. The colors are what interests me, because all Pixar movies have a colored theme, Ratatouille is very natural, very real... it's not as intense as their other movies. There's something very beautiful in that. Everything feels real and believeable, until you find yourself remembering that you're watching an ANIMATED movie. I love that when people give a movie like this a chance, they see that animation deserves to be on the same plane as any other movie.
The story may seem a bit silly, but the message behind it is what shines through, it's a common message, but here it's not sugar coated like in other family films. The great part of the story telling is that each of the characters goes through change, some obvious, some subtle. The fact that every character, good or bad, gains something from the story is great from a storytelling perspective.
The music is excellent, I thought the Incredibles score was Michael Giacchino's best, until I heard this soundtrack. Great strings and light percussion, very relaxing and flavorful.
The acting is top-notch all around, and the animators really deserve credit here, they've really captured the expressiveness and character in each actors voice.
The best part of the movie is in the last 5 minutes before the credits roll. Peter O'Toole's monologue is very well written and expressed, and really helps to drive home the theme of the movie. It's one of the most beautiful speeches, as it really makes sense and makes you think...
I recommend this movie for anyone who has an open mind, an creative side, or a strong passion that burns with in them, this movie is very inspiring when you let it sink in...