"Brave"

Merida in Pixar's latest venture, "Brave".

"If you could change your fate, would you?"

     Heavy words for a heavy ideal. That one could change their fate in a drastic way is a powerful claim. And in Pixar's "Brave", that exact claim is, unfortunately, bludgeoned repeatedly over your head. This neon-lit, repetitive theme is nearly as unfortunate as the wayward title for Pixar's latest film. "Brave" is hardly the adjective to use; "Prudent" or "Formulaic" may have been more apt.

     In the midst of this heavy talk of fate, we have several different panoramas in the periphery begging our attention. A strained relationship between a controlling mother and a stubborn daughter. A nation in the midst of an unsteady peace. And, seemingly unconnected, a distant legend of four kingdoms and the brothers who ruled them, and fought over them. Seemingly, the seed and soil for a great story to bloom. However, essential to any story conveyed through the big screen is execution. That a story may be great is one thing; to have an equally great storyteller is another matter entirely.

     The story centers on Merida. Merida is a young lass as stubborn as her Scottish brogue, and more fiery than her florid hair. She's lived her whole life with a love for archery, for the wild, and for being independent from her upbringing contained within the walls of a castle. Her parents, the monarchs of the land, have raised her to be the queen she must one day be, in order to keep peace in their land among the clans.

     Merida rebels, quite obviously, from the rigors of royal life. She refuses to stand on ceremony, and jerks clear of her mother's well-meant but strict attempts to calm her combustible cub. After a particularly explosive fight between the two over the matter of a trio of suitors, Merida tramps off into the forest, searching for something to "change her fate". By happenstance and said fate, she finds herself encountering a witch. A potion is made, and Merida sneaks back to the castle with a magical solution. Her mother will change, which will change Merida's "fate". (see? slightly repetitive)

     The change that occurs, is unexpected. Merida's mother becomes unrecognizable, and all sorts of animated high jinks ensues. Think "Princess Diaries" meets "Freaky Friday", add some fur and fighting, and you've got "Brave". A nicely-packaged story formula that is sure to delight, entertain, and sell merchandise (including a Disney-sanctioned Merida in the princess' royal lineup, something this Disney purist isn't too happy about. but that's another matter entirely.)

     And that may be the biggest reason that "Brave" is a sub-par Pixar film. It's formulaic, and it's not what we've come to expect of Pixar. Previous films, such as "Finding Nemo", "Cars", "Wall-E", and "Up" stand out expressively next to "Brave", because "Brave" has no heart. Our most beloved Pixar films had an inordinate amount of soul, honesty, and passion. "Toy Story 3" made us want to find our old, abandoned toys. "Wall-E" made us want to be human and unplug for a bit (not to mention it made us want to watch "Hello, Dolly"!) "Finding Nemo" made us want to push beyond our limitations and gimpy fins and swim out beyond our reefs. "Brave" made us want to...? Well, we're not sure. And therein lies the film's weakness. Although, I guess it did make girls everywhere (including my wife) want gorgeously unruly, carrot-orange curls.

     I don't mean to sound too harsh. My wife and I enjoyed the movie. So did the entire theater of animated sprouts that surrounded us. To be fair, "Brave" is a sweet film, one that fanfares the importance of family and dreams in a hyperactive parade of frenzied characters and gorgeous scenery. And plumes, fountains and shoots of red, curly hair.

     All things considered, "Brave" was a good movie. But only good, which is disappointing coming from a studio renowned for great.

     Pixar, if you could change your film, would you?

         -NOTE: The short film before "Brave", entitled "La Luna", is one to be commended. Imaginative, cheeky, and gilded with a hefty theme, this film was the toy inside the Happy Meal of my evening.