Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Brave is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Mérida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Mérida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Mérida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Mérida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall.
Brave is visually stunning — the Scottish Highlands are rendered with exceptional lushness and texture, easily among Pixar's finest cinematographic work. The premise of a princess actively resisting the marriage trope felt fresh at release, and Merida is a genuinely compelling protagonist. However, the plot pivots awkwardly from a personal coming-of-age story into a fairly conventional 'break the curse' fantasy quest, and the mother-bear storyline, while emotionally sincere, feels rushed and underdeveloped. The ending resolves the central conflict somewhat abruptly and tidily, lacking the emotional resonance of Pixar's best conclusions. Acting is competent and charming — Kelly Macdonald and Emma Thompson are highlights — but not exceptional. Novelty is moderate: while the female-led, mother-daughter focus was a meaningful shift for Pixar, the fairy tale mechanics it employs are well-worn.