Film Review: Brave
Pixar has gone and done it again. Its latest animated endeavour, Brave, is a film that is not only stunningly beautiful but also deeply resonant and absorbing. It may not be as groundbreaking as some of Pixar’s previous films, but it really shows us how it will continue to amaze us while thinking inside the box. Brave is the first ever Pixar fairytale (and features their first female protagonist) yet it exudes confidence every step along the way. The movie tells a meaningful but simple story and displays a majestic attention to detail throughout; once again, this is one that both children and adults will really enjoy.
Set in the Scottish highlands during the 10th century, Brave follows Princess Merida (voiced by Boardwalk Empire’s Kelly MacDonald), the daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). When the rebellious Merida learns that she is destined for an arranged marriage, she devises a way to defy the age-old custom that has disastrous and unintended consequences. The voice work from all of the actors involved is really brilliant, and MacDonald especially does a great job bringing the film’s dynamic flame-haired heroine to life.
The narrative is probably one of Pixar’s most focused and simple, frequently feeling like a faithful fairytale retelling. I’ve noticed that some of the criticism of Brave is built around the idea that it is too conventional. I couldn’t disagree more, though, as I feel this movie takes the conventions and does them justice, proving just how exciting and compelling they can be. This is also perhaps some of the finest animation from the studio ever. The delicately constructed world is incredibly beautiful, and the atmosphere of Scotland exists in the tiniest details. Patrick Doyle’s superb soundtrack further echoes the Scottish flavour, with evocative Gaelic folk and traditional Scottish sounds filling the world of Brave.
Thematically, Brave is concerned with exploring family relationships, something that Pixar have shown themselves to be very skilled at. One of the main reasons why Brave is unconventional is because it sidesteps any tired and dull romance stories and focuses specifically on the relationship between a troubled adolescent and her mother. This is something that we’ve seen in films before, sure, but it’s really taken seriously here and, because of that, the surprising developments in the second half of the film have a powerful impact. It’s got a darker tone than most kid-friendly movies, but like Toy Story 3, it all works towards a great emotional payoff at the end.
I know that numerous reviewers out there are disappointed that Brave isn’t as inventive or different as most of Pixar’s previous films, but I totally disagree with them (and I highly suggest that you make up your own mind too). This is an excellent film that is deeply layered, and it is far from the conventional “Princess movie” that some would have you believe. It’s also far from predictable, and its simple message of bravery and how it relates to family is strongly written and emotionally resonant. Brave shows that Pixar can do animated features that look to the past for their inspiration, but that can also be delightfully engaging and surprising in a creative way that indicates where the studio will go in the future.
