The middle part exchanges slapstick for plot (boring)Oh, my heavens, slapstick in an animated comedy?! You didn't walk into the theater it thinking it was a Merchant-Ivory film, did you?
and then we get a major plot device, illegitimacy.
IMHO, that's a very strange way to look at it unless you're trying to pick it apart.
Pixars haven’t previously indulged in a great deal of slapstick. I’m not a slapstick fan. It has it’s place and is better in measured doses. The opening cartoon was slapstick too. The middle slapstick scenes lasted too long. The kids in the theater liked it for awhile but even they turned quiet eventually.
I was surprised by the illegitimacy angle. Especially in the context of a protagonists mother. The movie description of her was that she professed belief in heaven, was publicly known as the Chefs lover and was keeping knowledge of the father and son from each other. If you think that’s being picky then I’m picky. I found it odd and disturbing in the presence of so many pre-schoolers in the audience.