Brave Review

Can Pixar change its fate?
Full review by Isaac Handelman

This isn’t the first time Pixar has been faced with the hefty task of proving, after a disappointing outing the previous year, that it’s still capable of capturing its signature brand of cinematic magic that’s been pleasing people of all ages for fifteen years. In fact, for many, Brave hasn’t been so much anticipated based on its own trailers and previews as much as it has been thanks to the need of the collective moviegoer to know whether Pixar’s strong cinematic vision has been recaptured after last year’s mediocre Cars 2. That lands the film in a somewhat awkward place as it releases in the midst of a season full of giant superhero sequels and big-budget action outings. 

Brave stars Merida, a spunky, rebellious young princess who flat-out refuses to accept the suitors brought forth to her from neighboring clans. Her mother, Queen Elinor, insists upon her betrothal while her father, the amusingly named King Fergus, finds her untraditional spark endearing and encourages Merida to do what she pleases, even if that doesn’t include the usual princess fare. Of course, Fergus’ opinion is no match for Elinor's motherly insistence, and Merida soon feels forced to change her destiny by herself. 

She calls upon the assistance of an old witch, who gifts Merida with a spell that’ll change her fate. I don’t want to get into specifics as not to spoil the finer points of Brave’s narrative, which takes an admittedly surprising twist about one-third of the way through that changes the entire course of the story. This time around, instead of crafting an entirely new, astoundingly original premise (as they did with Up, Wall-E, and others), the studio opts to stick with a more traditional setup whilst adding its own signature flair and creativity to the proceedings. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a new direction for a studio that’s usually praised for its unbelievable ingenuity, and it’s bound to turn some viewers off. 

Despite what its posters, which offer glimpses of sweeping landscapes and grand fantastical skylines, may have you think, Brave is set within a relatively small area, and its scope feels a tad restrained compared to past Pixar settings. Though it’s obligated to provide moments of excitement and hilarity, due to its target audience, Brave’s tale is personal, and undeniably centered on the bond between Merida and her mother. Thus, the film’s tagline “Change your fate,” is a bit misleading. The film doesn’t explore the implications of changing ones’ future as much as it does the aforementioned bond between mother and daughter. Having said that, are a few genuinely unexpected twists and turns throughout the narrative which tie the present proceedings to past events with a level of grace only achievable by Pixar.

Oddly enough, though, Pixar’s knack for depth and clarity in its storytelling feels partially missing here. The narrative doesn’t seem to have as clear a vision as past studio outings. It opens with the sense of wonder that Pixar has evoked from us so many times before, but the film’s central conflict doesn’t feel fully fleshed out or, at times, believable. I say this knowing full well that Brave is rooted in magic and fantasy, and yet major plot points occasionally come across as arbitrary, even downright random. Take the crumbling stone structure featured in many of the film’s trailers and posters, for instance; the setting is never fully explained or fleshed out, beyond being that place where everything important seems to happen. As a result, the central conflict at hand isn’t as interesting or involving for the audience. 

Thankfully, though, the characters contained therein are as colorful and diverse as ever. Merida, though perhaps not quite as memorable as some of Pixar’s most treasured characters, is a likable protagonist through and through. Fergus provides moments of hearty comic relief, as do Merida’s three (amusingly enough, identical) younger brothers. Mordu the bear is a menacing presence throughout, and the three skirmishing clans under Fergus’ rule each have their share of memorable personalities.

It’s tough not to feel just a tad disappointed by Brave -- and that’s a shame, really. Judged purely on its own merits, Brave is a perfectly serviceable animated adventure with plenty of heart to spare. But the fact is, Brave will not be judged purely on its own merits, no matter how much it deserves to be. 

The last time Pixar delivered a less-than-stellar outing (2006’s Cars) they followed up with the masterful Ratatouille. Yes, Brave has some enormous shoes to fill. It’s understandable, then, that it doesn’t quite manage to fill them. There’s no doubt in my mind that, sooner or later, Pixar will rekindle the fire that brought us modern classics in the likes of Toy Story 3 and Finding Nemo. But until that time, I’m content knowing that the studio is still perfectly capable of delivering visually stunning, rock-solid, crowd pleasing entertainment with unheard-of consistency. We can all take a breath, relax and at least know that Cars 2 was a fluke.

Final Score:

7.0/10

“Good”