'Ratatouille' (PG) Even if you loathe rats (that would be most of us), you'll still likely cozy up to "Ratatouille," the latest feature-length movie from the geniuses at Pixar Animation.

"Incredibles" director Brad Bird is at the helm of "Ratatouille," which tells the story of Remy (sincerely voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt), a rat who not only refuses to live outside of the trash heap, but dreams of being a gourmet chef in a five-star French restaurant.

Guided by the spirit of the late, iconic chef Auguste Gusteau ("Everybody Loves Raymond" star Brad Garrett), Remy finds his way into the Parisian restaurant Gusteau made famous. It's there he meets Linguini (Lou Romano), a garbage boy treated like, well, garbage, by the restaurant's manager Skinner (Ian Holm), and Collette (Janeane Garofalo), a fellow chef who strikes Linguini's fancy.

The creative force behind the food that has Paris buzzing, Remy begins to live his dream by forming a partnership with Linguini, who suddenly rises to prominence as a chef – but with the restaurant's legacy and potential for big money at stake, a suspicious Skinner begins to sniff around: and he just may be smelling, well, a rat.

The idea of rats in a kitchen may sound revolting, but the fantastical world that Bird and Pixar's animators create make the idea of a rat cooking food a little easier to swallow. But while Bird makes the whole idea of a rat cooking in a kitchen viable for both kids and adults, "Ratatouille," for whatever reason, just isn't as memorable as its predecessors.

It certainly doesn't move as fast. True, maybe there's not as much action as "The Incredibles" or last year's "Cars," but you can't exactly knock "Ratatouille" for having substance, either. Maybe perhaps it's getting to the point where computer animation, which is so commonplace now, just doesn't have the ability to wow audiences like it used to.

It could also be because of the disconnect audiences may have with the film's passion for the culinary arts. Give a kid a choice between a fast-food joint and a five-star restaurant in France, and chances are probably 9.5 out of 10 (if not greater) that the youngster is going to go for the french fries instead of French flambe.

Plus there's Bird's reputation to consider, too. With the box office and Oscar success of 'The Incredibles" and the modern classic "The Iron Giant" (which was hand-drawn), big fans of the animation genre, this writer included, expect to be blown away every time. Instead, it feels like something is missing from the menu. Sure, "Ratatouille" excels for tackling an original idea, but this time around, Bird may be too smart for his own good.

DVD Features: "Your Friend the Rat," a new animated short film featuring Remy; a conversation with Bird and master chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller; "Lifted," Pixar's most recent animated short film, and more. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) –Nov. 6

'The Pixar Short Films Collection' (NR) This wonderful companion piece timed for the release of "Ratatouille" includes Pixar shorts dating back to the 1980s, including the delightful "Tin Toy," which earned the company its first Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.

Also included are all of the short films that preceded Pixar's feature films. Bonus materials include a fascinating documentary about the history of Pixar, which was borne of the imagination of five artists, including Oscar-winning "Toy Story" director John Lasseter. (Walt Disney Home Entertainment) –Nov. 6

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'I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry' (PG-13): Adam Sandler and Kevin James ("The King of Queens") star as Chuck and Larry, as a pair of macho firefighters who must pretend they are gay to qualify for domestic partner benefits to ensure that widowed Larry's kids get his pension. Jessica Biel co-stars. (Universal Studios Home Entertainment)