REVIEW: Brave

Courtesy of Disney-Pixar

After getting critically lambasted with Cars 2 (I still don’t think it was that bad), Pixar is back on track with Brave. In addition to being a return to masterful storytelling, it also marks the studio’s first flick with a female main character. A long overdue move (credit goes to co-writers Mark Andrews, Steve Purcell, Brenda Chapman – who all co-directed too – and Irene Mecchi), it allows the story to unfold from a unique perspective, often in surprising ways.

That’s especially true of the unexpected turn it takes in the second act, which I’ll be careful to avoid spoiling. But I’m getting ahead of myself. The film introduces viewers to the latest Disney princess, a spirited young redhead named Merida (Kelly Macdonald, in a brilliant vocal performance) whose parents rule the ancient Highlands of Scotland.

Tradition dictates that her father (Billy Connolly) and mother (Emma Thompson) hold a competition to choose her suitor, but she makes it firmly known that she’s not having it. She competes alongside her potential mates (the summer’s second headstrong heroine with killer archery skills), enraging dignitaries from other parts of Scotland and humiliating her mother. Her dad, on the other hand, thinks it’s a hoot.

After mom and daughter have a blowout fight, Merida takes to the woods. That’s where she encounters a witch (Julie Walters) who she convinces to cast a spell that will “change her mother.” If you think that sounds awfully vague, you’re not wrong. The spell has unintended consequences, and Merida must set things right before the change becomes permanent.

While reaction will be mixed on the route Merida’s story takes, one thing is undeniable: Brave is one of the most gorgeous films Pixar has ever made. The sweeping shots of Scottish wilderness are beautifully lifelike and the animals that play a vital role in the proceedings wisely straddle the line between realistic and cartoonish.

I’ll admit the theater got a little dusty as I watched Merida ride her horse across the countryside accompanied by Julie Fowlis’ stunning rendition of “Touch the Sky.” The first 10 minutes alone are worth the ticket price (especially considering you also get to see La Luna, the brilliant short that plays before the movie.)

Seeing Brave in 3D isn’t necessary, but at least the filmmakers use it in an organic, unobtrusive way. Besides, it’s not important which format you watch it in, as long as you watch it. While not quite another masterpiece for Pixar (like Finding Nemo or Up), it’s still one of the best movies I’ve seen this year.

Brave is rated PG for some scary action and rude humor.

Grade: A-