Pixar has officially grown up.  From thematic material, to skillset in animation.  Brave represents Pixar animations greatest achievement in digital animation and unfortunately it’s greatest disappointment in story lines. It’s the first Pixar film to taut two Directors and the first one to prove that two heads are not better than one.  C-

Now that you’re an adult Pixar, you can talk some adult criticism.  But hey, I’m not one to break you down without stopping to pick you back up so here goes.  Brave is the typical Disney ‘Princess’ story set in the gorgeous lands of far off Scotland in the old mythical pre-Braveheart days.  Our heroine, Merida, is turning of age and like the women of that time is unfairly being forced into an arranged marriage by her father Fergus, the Leader of one of the four clans of Scotland.  Getting no support from her duty minded mother Elinor, she escapes the bounds of the castle and happens upon a witch who offers a potion to change her fate.  Sensing a common Disney theme here?

 

What struck me about the film was how mesmerized I was watching the scenic lands of old Scotland and the amazing attention to detail in every aspect of Merida’s world; from the leaves on trees to the misty whisps of air as the horse’s nostrils flare in chase.  It was topped only by the attention (and from what I’ve read elsewhere, incredibly ground breaking technology), to detail while giving motion and life to Merida and that gorgeous flock of scarlet.  Being a sucker for redheads, I was already intrigued by how well they would animate the character, and I have to say they did not falter.  What also struck me was at about an hour in, I’m asking myself ‘where’s the arc?, where’s the villain?, where’s the quest that dares young Merida to be…I don’t know…brave?  It never came.

 

The voice talent is nothing extremely memorable although the casting is a great selection of accent bestowed talent.  Emma Thompson (Dead Again), Billy Connolly (TV’s Head of The Class), Robbie Coltrane (Let It Ride), and even night-time talk show host Craig Ferguson all lend their talents to keep the authentic sound of Scots’ alive.  As far as likeable characters, that award goes to Julia Waters (Harry Potter fame) as the Witch.  Whimsical, enticing and just plain entertaining; a close second would be Merida’s triplet little brothers.

 

Brave attempts to appeal to everyone from 6 to 60 which was a great formula that worked with past successes like Pixar’s ‘Up’ but here, it all just gets lost and even the formulaic storyline isn’t enough to save it.  Let’s hope 3D can save the opening weekend box office because audiences are not going to embrace this one in that $200M+ way.

 

Brave is rated PG for scenes of scary action and rude humor.  Running Time, 1 hour and 40 minutes.