As fans of the Disney franchise, we spend a lot of time talking about the princes and princesses. The internet is filled with articles talking about the feminist implications of Disney princesses and the complete lack of personality frequently shown by their male counterparts. And while that's all well and good, we never seem to talk about the good old Disney sidekicks (sorry, hero support). True to form, these lovable BFFs remain shunted off to the side, doomed to spend their existence living in the shadow. But it's a shame, because a lot of times these side characters are the best part of the movie. Really, in terms of audience enjoyment, the hierarchy goes: sidekick, villain (depending on the film and whether or not James Wood happens to be voicing him, in which case the villain catapults in awesomeness), plucky female lead, boring tenor prince. So why no love for comic relief? It's a cruel world out there, but don't worry, little guys -- you're about to get your moment in the sun.
10. Linguini - Ratatouille
Linguini is kind of unique on this list, in that he is the human sidekick of an animal protagonist. The film Ratatouille revolves around Remy, a rat with aspirations of becoming a professional chef. Unfortunately, rats aren't exactly the most welcome visitors in a restaurant kitchen, and he's shut out until he forms an unlikely friendship with Linguini, a hapless busboy. Hidden in Linguini's chef's hat, he can cook to his heart's content without being discovered. Despite the fact that Remy is a rodent, Linguini offers him a place in his life. They share an apartment and Linguini helps him achieve all of his dreams. He's such an unassuming man who goes out of his way to form a relationship with an animal that most people would call an exterminator to get rid of. It's not exactly the most conventional relationship, but they work together incredibly well. His interactions with the other members of the kitchen are absolutely priceless, especially when he's trying to cover up the fact that he's got a rat in his hat.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
