Ratburger (2017 TV Movie) User Reviews

Enjoyable fun for the young!

[Majikat76 · 6/10 · 29 May 2018]

Let's face it, this film is not aimed at my generation, but I think David Walliams imagination is great for these kid films, almost what Roakd Dahl was for children's books.

Lots of fun for the young ones!

Fun but a little basic...

[rebeccalucy · 4/10 · 24 December 2017]

David Walliams really gave it his all, portraying a really comedic villain and being the most entertaining part of the whole film. Without him the film will have been very basic and dull. His whole plan seems quite unique and can be a little gross.

Most the other actors are okay, not really given much to do or say. The main girl is never given much development or either is the rat. We never learn why the rat can dance or where it even came from. Overall the film needed a lot more time to develop the story or the characters and motivations. It is mostly harmless and does have some fun elements.

The dancing rat

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 28 May 2018]

David Walliams children books have been adapted by the BBC for Christmas but Ratburger was done by Sky. It still has the same style of filming including an appearance again by Raj the shopkeeper.

Zoe is a school girl who lives in a tower block in a northern town. She had a pleasant life until her mother died.

Now she lives with a stepmother who cares little for her and her dad who is always working. Zoe is bullied at school and only has one friend at school.

Things change when she finds small rat in her bedroom who seems to understand her and also dances to music. Zoe wants the rat to perform at the school talent contest.

However Burt the greasy burger van man smells a rat kebab.

David Walliams is having fun as Burt the rat catcher who makes burgers out of them. However I thought this one was too infantile and curiously dark at the same time.

A background film

[antonyreynolds · 5/10 · 9 January 2018]

Not much to say here other than the fact that this movie has a basic plot, cringe jokes but a film that younger children could very much enjoy, a bit like the book.

Rat Catcher

[ninjaalexs · 7/10 · 28 December 2017]

Ratburger is an odd one. It is a family film through and through, but some of the plot might be too dark for young children. I'm not going to give away any plot spoilers. Talia Barnett puts in a nice performance as the down on her luck girl, Zoe (an actress to look out for in the future), Mark Benton is hugely likeable as Zoe's hard working and caring father, Sheridan Smith clearly enjoyed playing Zoe's chavvy and abusive mother, Nigel Planer seems to be doing an impression of John Cleese in Clockwork and David Walliams is creepy and sleazy as burger van owner, Burt.

I saw this over Christmas and some of the people I was viewing it with questioned if they would show it to younger children. Although played for laughs and darkly comic some of the more sinister plot lines go a stage beyond Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It's a fun romp though and something enjoyable for most people.

A fun family film

[Gordon-11 · 24 December 2017]

This film tells the story of a young girl, who has a rat that can dance. She has to save the rat from an evil burger man.

The story is full of dichotomous, black and white characters. The characters are funny, especially the policewoman who says sorry all the time. The evil stepmother is memorable as well. It is funny, and it is good for young children.

Painfully unfunny

[chipcharters · 1/10 · 1 January 2020]

Review: Nearly every character is repulsive and actively fowl in their behaviour. The music choices pander to the older generation who will buy this for their children (Mr blue-sky, dancing queen etc). The acting from the younger performers is as cringe worthy as you may expect but I feel the blame may be on how they were directed. The adults however are inducing in just how consistently they fumble punch lines and misjudge just how to land a joke. Viewing experience: I've just had the the displeasure of sitting through this with my family (including to small kids). There was no laughter at any point from anyone, this is completely devoid of comedy.

Simple but effective

[keitharilet · 7/10 · 17 December 2018]

Well it's on again this year - Sky One Christmas Eve 2pm

Reports are that this was highly received last year and no wonder - it was excellent

The story is simple so younger children can follow it easily. There are enough "Yuk" moments to keep them quite while you sip on your hard earned cup of Tea.

Bullies make school life hell but to find that the bully lives next door - a shocker. It all works out eventually after a little Christmas Magic and the bully changes her spots.

The film has everything:- The Evil Stepmother (Cinderella style) An Evil Rat Catcher (Child Catcher Chitty Chitty Bang Bang straw) A Father who is down on his luch who makes good Political and other jokes for us parents

And of course, the obligatory Fairy Godmother In the form of a Dancing Rat who changes the heroines life forever.

Audience Shots

[keitharilet · 7/10 · 17 August 2019]

Did you spit the "bullies" real family in the Audience?

Kids movie with belly laughs

[marra-61672 · 8/10 · 8 July 2020]

I'm not a kid, but sometimes enjoy a good kids' story. This was one of them! Quite a few genuine funny bits that made me laugh out loud. I loved the caricature type bad guys. You are more likely to enjoy this if you already think rats are cute. < :3

It is a good take on the book

[BBQ92 · 7/10 · 23 December 2020]

The book obviously has licence to explain the characters in more detail. The movie does a good job of delivering the main contents. David Williams was amazing at playing a disgusting character and the young cast tried their best.

sweet ugly kids movie

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 31 August 2021]

Zoe had a sweet life until her mother's death. Her father struggles and remarries horribly. She get bullied by bigger girl Tina Trotts. After losing a hamster, she finds a rat in her sock. The rat seems to dance and becomes her beloved pet. She gets suspended when her rat bites Tina.

It's a second-tier British kids movie. The lead is a newcomer. Her amateurism actually works in her favor. The general style is crass silliness. The production is second rate. The villain is deliberately ugly. It's all relatively fine. There is a sweetness to the movie despite all the ugliness. It's kind of a sweet ugliness.