This is one of my favorite Pixar films. The funny thing is, I can give many, many reasons why I like it, but this really only touches the surface and doesn’t fully explain why it affects me as deeply as it does. I agree that the story structure is a tad unwieldy and there are a few plot holes and strange contrivances, but none of this stops me from loving this movie.
If you watch the extra features on the DVD (or read interviews, Wikipedia, or whatever), it’s evident that the film had a troubled production history, so that likely explains at least some of the story flaws. Here’s my take on the problems you mention:
1. This one really bothered me the first time I saw the film. I came into the movie not knowing anything about the story other than its most basic elements, so I was expecting that Remy would not only become a famous chef himself, but that he also would, in some way, teach Linguini the art of fine cooking. Needless to say, that didn’t happen, and it bugged me at the time that Linguini seemed to experience so little character growth.
My opinion is a bit different now, though, and I think I understand Linguini’s character and motivations better. Linguini is introduced in the film as an awkward, scared, not very bright, totally incompetent kid who is thrown into a situation WAY over his head. Remy provides him with the opportunity to look like he actually knows what he’s doing and, as a result, keep his job and survive (okay, in a figurative sense) to the next day. Linguni is happy to go along with this strategy; without it, he would fail, since he has no natural talent for cooking. I think the reason he can’t absorb anything that Remy is “teaching” him is twofold. Firstly, he is just trying to get through each arduous day at work without revealing Remy. That would put a lot of pressure on anyone, especially someone as frightened and insecure as Linguini. Secondly, he has a major crush on Colette, so he is constantly distracted by her while Remy is directing him to make these amazing dishes. At the end of the film, he is in charge of the restaurant, but without Remy’s guidance, he’s completely panicked and unable to think straight, even if he HAD remembered a few things about cooking. I appreciate the scene where Linguini finally tells the truth about Remy, at the same time standing up for himself and exuding confidence that he’s never really shown before. What Linguini actually gained from Remy was confidence--not cooking ability or intelligence--so I think this is Linguini’s real character arc.
2. I agree with what other posters have been saying. The health inspector probably meant it in a figurative sense. Otherwise, I’m at a loss to explain what was going on.
3. This is another one that I can’t completely explain. The first time I saw the movie, I thought it was a monster of a plot hole. Still, in a film where rats can read, make boats and musical instruments, cook food, use a live human as a puppet, and so forth, I guess an apparently popular restaurant full of rats shouldn’t be too hard to accept. Anton Ego also seems to have a fair bit of clout, so even though Remy says that his review of Gusteau’s cost him his credibility as a critic, there must be lots of people who would still support him. Maybe there was some underhanded dealing that allowed an exception to be made for Ego.
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