Brave – A Disney Film in Pixar Clothing
*** 1/2 out of *****
Running time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG for some scary action and rude humor.
Audiences have come to expect an unsurpassed level of excellence from Pixar films. Based on such triumphs as the Toy Story Trilogy, Up, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo and Wall E, one has certain expectations from films with the Pixar logo over the title. Dazzling visuals on the cutting edge of computer technology. Excellent vocal performances. Heartwarming stories with tightly-woven scripts. All in all, the best that the art of animated film has to offer, dramatically, artistically and emotionally (I mean, who hasn't shed a few tears of joy in a Pixar film?).
There have been false steps. Cars and Cars II lacked the intellectual wit and careful plotting of the rest of Pixar's output. But there was still no doubt of their provenance. They were Pixar creations.
This doesn't seem to be the case with Brave, the new Disney/Pixar release. Please note which company gets top billing. Brave is a fine, good-hearted fairy tale, but it's much more in the tradition of Disney than Pixar. The heroine is a princess (check) who yearns to live the life she envisions for herself, not that laid out by her parents (right). Her best friend is an animal (yup) and the scary magical world she must enter to right the wrong she has done (sound familiar?) is dominated by creatures of evil.
So I'd classify Brave as a traditional Disney princess film, but one with all the Pixar trimmings. The only omitted story element is the handsome prince/true love sub plot. Instead the film is about the strains in a young woman's relationship with her parents, familiar to those who have seen and loved Disney's The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Tangled and others.
Don't get me wrong. Brave is a top-of-the-line production. The vocal performances, led by Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire), Emma Thompson and Scots comedian Billy Connolly, are sturdy and convincing. The visuals of the Scottish highlands, forests and glens, are spectacular. Costumes, music, art direction and editing are all first-rate.
But there's something lacking at the center of this tale. Perhaps it's the depth of feeling which one has come to expect from a Pixar production. Their movies evoke a strong emotional response from adults as well as children, while Disney cartoons set a lower bar. They are aimed at a young audience who don't want complicated emotions clouding the fairy tale.
Take your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews to Brave and you'll enjoy experiencing it through their eyes. You may even get teary-eyed, as I did, at the denouement. But don't expect the same warm glow you've felt when leaving other Pixar films. This one just doesn't have the same impact.
