Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Granted one wish, Merida must rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse.
If there’s a criticism to be levelled at Brave, it’s that for much of the movie the stakes don’t feel particularly high, with too little sense of peril until close to the end. But this doesn’t matter too much when events are a huge amount of fun.
At its heart, this is a Pixar film which eschews the genre's trademark reliance on facile, saccharine moralism in favour of the robust, no-nonsense and heartfelt nonconformity that runs through all the studio's best efforts.
Story isn’t Brave’s strong suit – it relies too heavily on a rather random-feeling deus ex machina – but its gloss, confidence and sense of fun go a long way to compensate.
Though the story is very simple by Pixar standards – don't expect a Wall.E – Mark Andrews's film looks wonderful, it's funny and it's bright, and this being a film from the makers of Toy Story and Up, you can look forward to a wee greet too.
Brave is as true as an arrow whistling straight towards the centre of its target.
Though not quite up to WALL-E or Toy Story standards, this is still one of the year’s best family films that consistently hits the target.
Pixar strikes gold again. For once, its latest opus is a slightly lesser, slightly muddled confection than usual but nevertheless effortlessly entertaining, a typically joyful romp of silliness and animated splendour.
You’d have to be made of stone not to enjoy Brave.
More lukewarm haggis than piping-hot broth, Pixar’s 13th feature might fall short, but is still head and hair-covered shoulders above most of its CG competitors.
Brave is beautiful and messy and more complicated – and consequently harder to categorise – than it at first appears. A perfect testament, perhaps, to the setting that inspired it.
Enjoy the sheer beauty on screen, feast on the songs by Julie Fowlis, laugh at the slapstick, smile at the clever lines and, yes, feel a lump in the throat and a quickening of the pulse as the drama takes hold. This is a brave, bold, gorgeous movie. Or as we say around these parts, gaun yersel Pixar.
A lot of thought went into animating Merida’s lively and rebellious red hair. A pity that such attention to texture and detail eludes the rest of the film.
McMulan.
A poignant, grandly entertaining 3-D Highland romp that will leave everyone wanting to give mum a big hug.
Yet although it may lack the sophistication, subtlety and wit of classic Pixar, its gorgeous visuals, lively British voice-cast and cute supporting characters (namely Merida’s three scallywag little brothers) ensure that Brave entertains and amuses throughout.
Brave still has flashes of the Pixar magic here and there, but from a studio that's a byword for genius this must count as a misfire.
There was a time when Pixar movies worked gloriously for adults, teens, tweens, small kids, everyone; this one is unsatisfying for all ages.
Mothers and daughters will revel in it together, but it's not essential for anyone else.
No less lovely than former films, in many ways lovelier, but Brave is boutique Pixar: less ambitious, more succinct, excellence at a lower ebb.
The film is technically accomplished, and Patrick Doyle has provided a suitably Caledonian score, but the backgrounds are too realistic and there's no warmth and little magic in the story and the characters.
The freedom to have fun.
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General release. Check local listings for show times.
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