by Kevin Gaussoin, Editor-in-Chief

Brave is set in medieval Scotland where our new Disney Princess, Merida DunBroch (Kelly Macdonald – Boardwalk Empire, Harry Potter) is coming of age and is commanded by her parents King Fergus (Billy Connolly – X-Files: I Want To Believe, Boondock Saints) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson – Love Actually, Harry Potter) that she must choose a suitor. When three princes each from the three allied clans are presented as her potential suitors, Merida rebels and challenges the suitors to an archery competition for her own hand. An expert archer, Merida wins easily. Had Merida only known that the chief and prince of Clan MacGuffin were each voiced by Kevin McKidd from Rome and Journeyman, I suspect this would have been a much shorter movie.

This sends all four clans into turmoil and Merida flees on her horse, ending up at a witch’s cottage. Merida negotiates with The Witch (Julie Walters – Harry Potter, Gnomeo & Juliet) to give her a spell that would change Merida’s mother and her fate.

Brave is all about change. Producer Katherine Sarafian describes it as “A quest to reconcile who you are with you the world wants you to be.” When I first saw the movie, it bothered me that I didn’t really see where the title came from. While the film certainly has its proper share of frightening moments of peril, I never really saw how one would arrive at the title from these. In Brave, our characters must be brave in the face of change, whether the change comes literally in the form of some sort of Lycanthropy, or more subtly via coming of age or just changing one’s mind from “the way it’s always been done” to “the way things could be.” …or maybe it was just brave of Pixar to have a bunch of comedic naked butts for the first time (in my recollection) in a Disney film.

On first watch, I had some problems with Brave. It seemed unfinished. I didn’t see why it was called “Brave”. It’s still not obvious what exactly caused The Witch’s spell to be broken. We didn’t get an epilogue for Mor’du or his family. We never get a complete explanation for the will o’ the wisps. The scene with the witch was too short. The suitor characters could have used some more development.

Overall

Brave is a beautiful addition to the Disney legacy. Whether you enjoy it for the action, the comedy, the mother-daughter moments, or all of the above, Brave is a must-have addition to your home theater collection. Sure, Brave has a few weak points, but I found the story only improves with repeated viewing.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Brave 4 out of 5 jammy cakes with family.

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