Who's Laughing Now, Chuckles McVermin?

August 20, 2007 12:34 AM

With the French embrace of Pixar's Ratatouille, one of the movie's locations has become an unlikely tourist attraction. "Destruction des Animaux Nuisibles" reads the sign above the door of Aurouze, where the bodies of rats 80 years dead hang suspended by iron traps in the storefront window. Meanwhile, American scientists tickle rodents to record thier tiny gales of laughter. Viva la difference!
posted by maryh (18 comments total)

More on rat laughter.
And for fans of the Ratatouille, here's a collection of "making-of" podcasts, and the delightful French movie trailer.
posted by maryh at 12:35 AM on August 20, 2007

Cool, I've been a little curious to hear how Ratatouille would fare in France. But it seemed like the film was so earnest in getting the details right that it was bound to do well there. I just hope Brad Bird keeps making films.
posted by timelord at 1:08 AM on August 20, 2007

Viva?? Erm.
posted by nonmerci at 1:17 AM on August 20, 2007 [2 favorites]

Rats laughing! I love it.
posted by toma at 1:18 AM on August 20, 2007

That rat laughing video made my day. Thanks!
posted by spiderskull at 1:58 AM on August 20, 2007

«Oh, cette pièce de fromage? C'est pas pour moi ... c'est pour ma pauvre maman, qui est malade. (He, he!)»
posted by rob511 at 3:33 AM on August 20, 2007

OMG! LOLRATS!!!
posted by malaprohibita at 4:30 AM on August 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

Scientists tickling rats? To make them laugh? Well, maybe they only hate mice.
posted by John of Michigan at 5:21 AM on August 20, 2007

I enjoy reading negative reviews of near-universally acclaimed movies. This guy seems to think it's an obscene documentary praising poor kitchen hygiene.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 5:31 AM on August 20, 2007

I enjoy reading negative reviews of near-universally acclaimed movies.

I enjoy reading negative reviews of near-universally acclaimed films that I hate. But The Sweet Hereafter got 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, so where does that leave me? I fucking despised every scene and every sentiment in that piece of shit mess.

I loved Ratatouille though.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:20 AM on August 20, 2007

That scene in Ratatouille where the rats contemplate the display of rat traps is a risky artistic move. It's a nod toward the classic kid's cartoon trope of creating empathy for the Other. How sad that rats and humans are at war--couldn't we just all get along? Typically this is a metaphor for having empathy with people who are different from us.

But in this case, you've got an Other, rats, that really are foul vermin that need to be exterminated. I'm not sure I like where that leaves me, metaphorically.
posted by straight at 2:25 PM on August 20, 2007

[Obligatory disclaimer that I loved the movie, it's the best animated film ever, I laughed, I cried, it became a part of me...]
posted by straight at 2:26 PM on August 20, 2007

But in this case, you've got an Other, rats, that really are foul vermin that need to be exterminated.

Or, from another (more accurate) perspective, you are a foul vermin that needs to be exterminated.

Seriously, rats are awesome.
posted by wildcrdj at 2:41 PM on August 20, 2007

awww, Astonishing, that rats laugh! That's adorable. And the scientists figured out what almost any kid with a pet knows, that fuzzy (and sometimes not fuzzy) critters like playing. LOLRATS, how cool! I CAN HAZ CHEESE.

Wonder what the origins of enjoying tickling are?
posted by nickyskye at 11:44 PM on August 20, 2007

ps Marvelous post maryh!
posted by nickyskye at 11:45 PM on August 20, 2007

Thanks for the compliment, nickyskye!

straight: I agree! I loved the movie for many reasons, one being the way that the filmmakers pushed what could have been a typically pladitudinous fable about discrimination to stange and uncomfortable lengths. I thought it was interesting that earlier in the production the rats' design was more anthropomorphic (discussed at one point here), a choice that would've given the movie a much different flavor, and I think would've softened the conflict considerabley. It was a brave move for them to embrace the 'squick factor', but it really paid off IMO.
posted by maryh at 12:55 PM on August 21, 2007

er, platitudinous. sigh
posted by maryh at 12:58 PM on August 21, 2007

I just saw the movie. Knowing the rat extermination shop was real made 'get' the joke. Tx.
I think I recognized a reference to a Jason Bourne movie; climbing from a boat onto the bridge.
posted by jouke at 1:13 PM on August 22, 2007