Brave: Mothers and Daughters

Yesterday my brother and I went to the theater to see the newest Pixar film. Despite some of our trepidations based on the trailers, we were eager to view it. Its Pixar after all. All of their movies have ranged from the excellent to the merely very good(Cars? What Cars movie?).

While this is one that ended up more on the very good end of the scale, there is still much to recommend about the film. "Brave" is centered around the broken relationship between the 13-14 year old Merida and her mother Queen Elinor. As Merida loves nothing more to ride horses and practice impossible archery feats and rock climb, her mother has been reduced to a nagging, correcting presence in her life. One whose words are mostly telling her what she most not do or be in order to become "a lady."

Naturally, this all comes to a head when the issue of Merida marrying comes up. The other three clans in the area have their first born sons all attempt to compete for her hand, but Merida will have none of it. It is in a fight that turns nasty about this that causes Merida to flee into the woods and into the cabin of a witch, promising a spell that can change her mother's mind.

The astute movie goer can of course see that this will lead to the sort of horrible complications that will force Merida and her mother to mend their fences. For spells are always broken by character development.

First, the good. Merida and her mother have a quite real and complex relationship. One that is explored well throughout the movie. Almost every element of the plot is foreshadowed in an intelligent and thoughtful manner.There are a number of well done comedic set pieces, and the animation. Oh lord, the animation. Suffice to say, Pixar's computers have clearly gotten to the point that the only limiters are imagination and expertise.

Now, while there aren't any major stumbling blocks or gaping flaws, there are little things that add up. Pixar, you do your first and likely only movie about a girl, and you make her a princess? Isn't that market a little saturated? Thankfully, it barely has an impact. Also, while there are action scenes that will get your heart pumping, for the most part they are the sort of thing that could have been done easily in live action.

While I could stretch more and add to the list, what is really missing is a je ne sais quoi. This didn't end blowing me away as Walle or Toy Story 3 did. As stated before, it was merely quite good. Which makes it better than 90% of what comes out, so go ahead and see it if you like Pixar, animation, or just well done movies in general.