Pixar is a rare studio. The people there have this insane knack for telling movies that have meaningful stories that are filled with charm and heart almost every time. I say almost because of their past twelve releases I've enjoyed ten of them, particularly RATATOUILLE, TOY STORY, MONSTERS, INC. and THE INCREDIBLES, but that whole CARS franchise just doesn't do it for me. But still ten out of twelve ain't bad so I hold them to a high standard when it comes to delivering rich, family movies. And it was disappointing to me that BRAVE fell flat when in came to telling a well thought out and moving story with a charming protagonist.
BRAVE tells the very simple tale of a rebellious, independent Scottish princess, Merida (Kelly Macdonald), who would rather be out in the woods with her bow and arrow than learning how to act like a princess. On the day that her would-be suitors arrive to compete for Merida’s hand in marriage, Merida defies her mother’s wishes by competing for her own hand in marriage. After publicly embarrassing the King (Billy Connelly), the Queen (Emma Thompson) and her would be suitors; Merida gets into a big fight with the Queen and runs off to brood in the forest. There she encounters a witch who provides her with a spell to change her mother’s mind and change her own fate. Turns out the spell transforms her mother into a bear and after realizing the error of her ways, Merida does all she can to reverse the spell and save her mother.
For a Pixar movie BRAVE seems way too simple and safe. The story is basically a girl learns to be careful what she wishes for after she transforms her mother into a bear and must turn her back into a human. That’s it. The story doesn’t include any emotional depth, doesn’t develop the mother-daughter relationship or have a compelling B story. I do appreciate that the filmmakers focused on the mother-daughter relationship rather than Merida trying to figure out which suitor is right for her. However I didn’t feel a genuine growth in their relationship over the course of the movie. They start off bumping heads and Merida does become concerned for her mother after she casts her spell but the concern she shows for the Queen doesn’t seem to be out of a love for her mother but more like concern for a pet, like, “Oh no! I have to keep this new puppy alive” not “My god! What have I done to my mother?!?!” And it’s that lack of genuine love that made all the effort Merida put into reversing the spell and the whole the ending feel phony and forced. The same can be said for the Queen. Even though I could see the love that the Queen had for Merida and that she was looking out for her in all her efforts to make her a proper princess, the change of heart she has in the last act doesn’t feel justified. The Queen doesn’t feel the need to force Merida to be a princess anymore but I don’t see where that decision comes from. Merida didn’t change or grow during the course of the movie. She stuck up for her mom a bit more than she had before but she was still the same girl she started out as.
Even though BRAVE is only distributed by Disney I felt like there was a missed opportunity to showcase Scottish lore and culture with BRAVE as has been done in past Disney movies like MULAN and POCAHONTAS. Those movies highlighted the beliefs and customs the people in the film's setting, teaching the audience, allowing us to create a deeper connection with the characters and become immersed in the world on screen. Had they incorporated more of the Scottish lore and history that is briefly touched on it would've made the world within BRAVE richer and more interesting. We get to see little glimpses of magic with the witch's spell and the will-o-the-wisps as well as learn about the story of the four brothers who had a falling out that broke up the kingdom but they’re forgotten for most of the story only to be brought back in the film’s finale. There was no real connection to the brothers’ story or how magic really permeates their society. Had they expanded the brothers’ story and the magical elements or made them a recurring thing in the movie then the ending would’ve been more impactful.
If they wanted to capitalize on their idea of changing one’s fate why not make BRAVE a story about this wild princess who used to be very stubborn, headstrong and anti-royalty who must rally her kingdom against some invaders or mythical creatures when the King and Queen couldn’t? A story like this would’ve shown that different doesn’t always mean wrong while also giving Merida opportunities to mature, choose her own role in the kingdom and create a new legend to add to the history books. Merida would’ve been a heroic princess instead of somewhat of a brat. Quite honestly I didn’t really care for Merida. I liked her at first because she was this strong willed and independent girl who wanted to make her own way in life. Her participation in the archery contest for her own hand in marriage really proved that point. But after that initial stance Merida never changed or grew from being a girl only looking out for herself to a more grown-up woman.
Storytelling and characters aside, BRAVE is on a whole new level visually for Pixar. There is so much detail in the characters and the landscapes. Merida’s hair is a voluptuous, gorgeous mess of shockingly bright curls and twists and the Scottish countryside and Highlands looking absolutely gorgeous filled with lush trees, hills and mountains. But Pixar movies cannot get by on looks alone and BRAVE fails to meet the Pixar standard. It’s emotionally shallow and instead of aiming for families it becomes a typical kids movie that is anything but brave.
