The animated character Linguini, here holding Remy, in a scene from the animated film Ratatouille .
Remy, a common rat with a gourmet's soul, has made his way to the kitchen of the once-great Paris restaurant Gusteau's. Here, the new Pixar movie Ratatouille tells us, he will be able to create superb dishes--if only he can find a human ally. His desperate choice: a callow scullery lad named Linguini. Remy, in the logic of animated features, understands the boy's words, but Linguini can't speak rat; so the two communicate through Remy's nods and brow furrowings. Somehow, the kid gets the message. "I can't cook ..." Linguini says, and the rodent shakes his head no. "But...
