If you haven't met Keela yet, you need to visit the Mil Mania Sign-up page and check out back issues of that publication to read her "madvice" as offered in the "Molly Madvises" column.

     (The review of the film Ratatouille posted below is linked from the July '07 issue of her column.)

     Nothing like the viewpoint of a rat herself for getting the right perspective on a film or book starring her species!

     Enjoy.

NEW!!!
     Since this is a sequel to another fantastic rodent story (entitled A Rat's Tale, , which stars the gifted shell painter, Montague Mad-Rat) I realize I should probably review that book first.  However, because it's this later one that introduced me to the delicious dish ratatouille -- after which my favorite movie (reviewed below) is named -- I thought it might make sense to follow-up my comments on that film by working backwards. After all, you already know how carried away I can get when it comes to the topic of food! Be that as it may, I will try to publish a review of A Rat's Tale, too, in the near future.
     I should also mention up front that I think the original is among the most perfectly penned masterpieces of rat fiction I've scampered across to date (despite the fact it, sadly, doesn't contain many tasty treats).  And, while this sequel may not quite live up to that kind of praise, there's much to savor about it nonetheless -- and I do!  Not only does it re-acquaint us with several beloved characters, it offers a whole new perspective on one I didn't love so much the first time around...and didn't love all that much at times in this one.  But, in fairness I have to admit not everybody matures at the same rate...and the road to growing up and finding one's place in a pretty big world can sometimes be a rocky and confusing one.  
     Of course, when one comes from the world of New York City's privileged wharf rats, there's no preparation for how to deal with the roadblock of a lowly sewer rat (one who -- horror of all horrors, makes things with his paws, no less) suddenly being heralded as a hero by his own high rat society...and worse yet, finding his lovely she-rat fiancée instead marrying this "upstart".  Faced with such unprecedented humiliation, it's not hard to imagine the title character, Randal Reese-Rat, might well wish for ratribution.  The elaborate images of this he envisions, however, do at first shock the reader...but I have to admit amuse as well, since it becomes obvious early on that Randal is really far more a mere brat than a true bully or "bad guy".  
     But Randal's only half the story here since this volume also introduces a new character -- an exotic  she-rat musician from Africa named Maggie.  Maggie is the cousin of the aforementioned "upstart" (daughter to his globetratting Aunt Elizabeth) who brings her to New York for the sole purpose of attending his (and Randal's ex-fiancée's) wedding.  What's more, Maggie is so charming and the music she creates so beautiful, her performance at the reception actually makes the guests in attendance stop eating to share in its joy.  Of course, one witness to this who remains less than joyful is Randal.  And, since he wants nothing to do with any rat of such hated associations, it proves a challenge to his sensibilities when he learns he and Maggie in fact have a lot in common.  Eventually, though, he's forced to admit she's awakened a new rat within -- one who shares very little with the egotistical creature he'd always been.  In the process (one aided by other dismaying circumstances I won't give away here) he comes to learn about a lot of uncharted territory to be explored -- both beyond the shores of the community he thought he knew...and within the borders of his very own he-art. 
     Highly ratcommended reading.  Enjoy!
                                                                                                                                                 KEELA  

     First I have to answer the question you're probably asking with regard to how I could already have a review of this film when it’s not even close to coming out on DVD…given rats aren’t allowed in movie theaters (except the animated ones on the screen in this instance, of course!).  Well, all I can say to that is mom has a really nice knapsack-like purse big enough for me to hide in (and with lots of little openings for air).  Now, I’m not saying she put me in there and took me to the movie theater or anything like that.  I’m just saying she has a beautifully roomy potential pet carrier and here’s my review of this recently opened film.  You can draw your own conclusions about the rest…

     I’m sure it goes without saying that a movie starring rats and with a title that’s a food starts off with a pretty strongly positive impression for me – and pretty high expectations to live up to.  And, oh boy, does it!  In fact, there’s so much to be passion-fruit about I don’t know which ratspect of it to bite off first.   I guess I should start at the beginning which is pretty exciting but kind of scary since we see Remy breaking out of a window with a book over his head.  Although it’s obvious he’s got himself into something of an Elvis we have to wait for the story to back up a bit to see how that came about.  And, when we do we learn that while Remy is a rat (which he explains “means life is hard”) he’s also a misfit in his family because he longs to not only eat tastier treats than are usually available to his species, but he actually wants to create them in the first place. 
     It’s already been established in Mom’s review of the book A Rat’s Tale that “rat and art are made up of the same letters”.  And so, Remy is not just a “rat” but a great “art”ist when it comes to food (hmm…I just noticed the word “eat” is in the middle of “create”.  See, there is something to my being passion-ate or passion-fruit about things going straight to the truth of how passion and hunger really do go together!)
     But, I digress.  While I don’t want to give up too much of what happens so will keep this review short, the point of the film is that it seems Remy’s dreams of becoming a great chef are impossible.  Rats are even less welcome in kitchens than they are in movie theaters.  And, if Remy isn’t welcome in a kitchen, how on earth is he supposed to use one to “create” good things to “eat”.  Well, that’s where faith and determination come in, in this case inspired by Paris’ most inspired restau…rat…eur, August Gusteau.  And, when fate unexpectedly places Remy in the heart of Paris right under Gusteau’s restaurant he begins to face his greatest challenges – and catch sight of his greatest dreams.
     Along the way, he learns (as do others who weren’t always convinced) that “not everyone can be a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere”, and that nothing is impossible if one is brave and follows his heart. 
     Maybe you remember that in one of my columns I was asked about one's  he-art vs. he-ad with the he-ad meaning “ego”.  Well, can you believe, this film actually has a character named Ego who proves one of the most fearful threats against Remy’s he-art?!?  Oh, I just can’t say enough times how this movie simply has everything a rat – and, from my mom and dad’s viewpoints a hu-man and hu-woman, too – could possibly want in a movie.  It’s definitely my new favorite – and boy does its title make me hungry! 
     That said, I’ve gotta go….Mom’s supposed to help me pick out a recipe for ratatouille on the internet so we can try it out together.  While we’re doing that, I suggest you go see the film Ratatouille and have the most fun anyone possibly can… without actually eating something that looks and sounds sooooo good.

                                                                                                                                       KEELA  

11/07 P.S.  Ratatouille is now available on DVD!!!  Go rent -- or better yet buy it NOW.