Ratatouille. It’s not just a dish. It’s also a Disney Movie from 2007. The basic plot is that a rat named Remy—and if I’m spoiling this for you I’m sorry—is actually quite a good cook. And his dreams are to cook in Paris. But he’s a rat. How’s that supposed to work?
Well, believe it or not, his chance comes when he encounters a human by the name of Alfredo Linguini who contrary to his name, doesn’t know how to cook at all. Or at least not very well. Remy however, by controlling Linguini’s actions by the pulling of his hair—just watch the movie to capture the true essence of this—turns him into the chef of all chefs.
Not to make this movie summary longer than it needs to be, it turns out that Gusteau’s, the restaurant that Linguini works—of which Linguini becomes the head chef thanks to Remy—catches the eye of food critic Anton Ego. Ego had years before critiqued this restaurant which set it on a downward spiral. Now, with all the new hype concerning Gusteau’s—for Remy really is a good cook though everyone thinks it’s Linguini—Ego has his heart set on spoiling this restaurant once again.
So Ego enters Gusteau’s and sits down to dinner with pen in hand. And as he does, the cat, or shall I sat rat, is now out of the bag. Linguini shares with the kitchen staff that it’s really Remy that does all the cooking. He is just the conduit. Naturally, everyone leaves. Wouldn’t you? But as they do, Ego is still waiting for dinner. What happens? Well, Remy’s family and friends—all rats—help him cook. And the dish that is decided upon is ratatouille. One bite for Ego sends him back to his childhood. It’s thus not just a meal, but an experience of elation. Ego can’t believe his taste buds.
With such an incredible meal, Ego naturally thanks Linguini for such a fine night of dining. Linguini, however, is tired of pretending he is the new top ranked chef in Paris. So he introduces him to Remy and tells their story. Ego shows no response, thanks them for the meal, and walks out. The next day Ego’s critique of Gusteau’s hits the press for all to read. Here is a portion of what he wrote:
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends.
I’ve seen Ratatouille. It’s quite entertaining. Always makes me hungry. And yet Ego’s quote has always seemed to escape me until just recently. There are plenty of reasons why. Most likely, I wasn’t really expecting to hear anything too profound from a movie about a rat who becomes a prominent chef in Paris. But today these words by Ego appear afresh to me. They have made me think.
It’s so easy to criticize. I see it some on social media. I see it in the sports world. I hear it in churches. Ego says it’s fun to do. It’s also powerful. And it really doesn’t cost the one doing the critiquing anything.
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t evaluate and learn. But Ego was a critic who had to learn that to critique in order to destroy and overthrow is not good. I agree. Let’s watch what we say and post today. Let’s be kind to the new. Ego is perhaps right. The new needs friends. So read Ego’s words again. Realize that what we openly critique might be considered treasure by someone else. Take a risk to see and think and hear and feel that which you might have already made a predetermined judgment. For just like this quote, you never know when and where you will be surprised by truth and beauty and goodness.