BRAVE

Since 1995 Pixar has been pumping out some of the greatest animated films of all time like clockwork. They seemed to hit a peak with Ratatouille, Wall-E and Up, which where strong, iconoclastic, magical films, that absolutely should not work. Before Up, did you think kids would want to see a movie about a senior citizen getting over the death of his wife? Pixar’s latest offering isn’t as tough a sell as that, nor is it’s success as magical, but it’s still a satisfying film nonetheless. 

Brave shows us mediaeval Scotland through the eyes of Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald). Merida is a precocious lass, running, jumping, climbing, bow hunting. But being an energetic spitfire isn’t what her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Tompson), wants for her daughter. She feels that it is the princess’s place to be lady like and prepare for life as a husband to one of the three tribes that keep the country together under the King (Billy Connolly). But Merida has other ideas and intentionally sabotages an archery contest that was to decide her betrothal. The scene is a wonderfully executed homage to Michael Curtiz’s The Adventures of Robin Hood.

Unfortunately her sabotage brings the kingdom to the brink of civil war and worst of all, alienates her from her mother. The interplay between mother and daughter is the heart of the film. It’s a nice break from the very boy-centric world of Hollywood. All the more refreshing that Pixar has managed to create this break without feeling like a chick flick. Merida has no love interest and isn't interested in finding one. The film never feels like it’s being niche, or in any way reductive. In fact the film is very richly conceived in terms of character and plot and Pixar has really outdone themselves with its conception of the film’s world. Merida’s hair isn’t just red, it seems to be every shade of red simultaneously. The films bears (a recurring motif in the film) are beautifully animated and display more personality than some entire films.

But despite being a refreshing change from the norm, it’s just not as masterful a film as we expect Pixar to put out these days. Despite a huge twist, the film does feel, at times, like it’s leaning a bit hard on Disney formula. No one breaks out into song, but during some of the musical montages they might as well have, it wouldn’t have mattered except that none of the songs are that memorable.

But still, these are just minor quibbles. The truth is that Brave is an impressively realized, entertaining film that earns every tear it’s likely to extract from the audience. Most importantly it really understands how to treat it’s female protagonist. It’s a good bonding film for mothers looking to take their daughters to the movies, and everyone else should thoroughly enjoy it too.

Like the majority of Pixar films, Brave is preceded by a short film. This one is called La Luna, which was nominated for Best Animated Short at last years Oscars. It’s a delightful little piece about family of janitors who commute to the Moon every night via boat and ladder. There’s not much to say other than it’s adorable and smile inducing.

Grades:

La Luna: B
Brave: B+