BRAVE (2012)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
"Brave" is one of the most pleasurable, romantic and charming Disney films I've seen in quite some time. I'll go further - it is a sumptuous fantasy with a heroine we can root for and believe in. Sound hokey to cynics out there? Read further.
Merida (voiced by Kelly McDonald) is a long curly-red-haired girl who is also an expert archer. She is daughter of the strict Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) and the carefree and boisterous King Fergus (voiced by Billy Connolly) who both hope to have their feisty daughter married to a prospective suitor from one of the clans of Macintosh, MacGuffin and Dingwall. An archery contest will prove who can hit the bullseye and marry Merida but Merida will have none of that. She is a free spirit who wants to follow her heart's desire. Merida loves to ride horses, shoot arrows, and watch the waterfalls.
She doesn't see eye to eye with her mother - so much so that Merida visits a witch and puts a spell on her mother to persuade her to not force her daughter into marriage. Queen Elinor has become a bear (not quite what Merida had in mind) and King Fergus (who had lost his leg while fighting a bear) is ready for another confrontation, unaware his wife is an oversized animal.The film had me entranced from its beautifully orchestrated opening shot of the Scottish Highlands - it is so richly detailed and so intoxicating to watch that Pixar outdoes itself. The animation is amazingly gorgeous, from the lush greens of the countryside to the cascading rivers, to the foggy forest where will-o'-the-wisps reside in bluish disappearing streaks, to the scary bears and scarier-looking crones. Of course, as always, all this would make a sweet empty visual treat if not for the characters who are believable and come alive in bewitching ways.
Merida is full of sass, as is her father. The mother learns to see that her daughter is more worthy and brave than she had thought. One scene in particular has Elinor as the bear witnessing how her daughter makes the warring clans see how marriage should not be arranged and seeks to break an ancient tradition - it is a cliched moment to be sure but it is given a touch of humor (Elinor uses charades to guide her daughter) and depicts an emotional truth in Merida.
"Brave" is Pixar's first fairy tale and uses elements of Hans Christian Andersen and Brothers Grimm to tell its story (it is also Pixar's first attempt to have a female lead headlining their movie). Some critics found the plot underwhelming but it had me hooked, though I wasn't surprised by how it ended - the quixotic journey of getting there is what makes it so transfixing. "Brave" has got magic, fantasy, a stunning conclusion, some terrific gags involving Merida's younger, pie-loving brothers, and a brave heroine whom I won't soon forget - she has as much pluck and determination as Katniss Everdeen from "The Hunger Games." More young female types like this should be encouraged. "Brave" is perfect entertainment for kids and adults without a false moment in its 93-minute running time. Bravo!
