Movie review: ‘Brave’ (VIDEO/AUDIO)

A tale told through a thick Scottish burr, “Brave” already has been hailed for featuring Pixar’s first female lead.

But it goes a wee bit beyond that.

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The heroine, Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald), is also Pixar’s first princess. And “Brave” is the computer-animation studio’s first fairy tale. All this may sound like Pixar is treading into the territory of its parent company, Disney. As usual, though, Pixar puts its own spin on things.

For starters, this is not an old tale retold. “Brave” is a fairy tale invented by the team of filmmakers (“story by” credit goes to co-director Brenda Chapman). Highland folklore, as well as the cautionary themes of Greek mythology, may contribute elements to the plot and the setting may be ancient (Celtic warriors brag about driving out Roman invaders), but the story is new.

Furthermore, Merida is no Disney princess (though I suspect she nevertheless will end up on packaging alongside Belle, Jasmine and Aurora some day). Encouraged by her giddy father, King Fergus (comedian Billy Connolly), Merida would rather romp through the Highlands climbing mountains and shooting her bow than learn proper dining etiquette.

Those lessons are the department of Merida’s mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), and you have to feel for the woman. She wants her castle to be known for feminine elegance and grace, but the odds are stacked against her. Her burly husband, who looks like a wall in a kilt, loves to brawl; her daughter is a tomboy; and her three young sons, Harris, Hubert and Hamish, learned to prank before they could walk. The antics of this silent trio recall another set of Disney triplets, Donald Duck’s nephews Huey, Louie and Dewey.

But Queen Elinor perseveres and attempts give Merida lessons in how to be a princess, starting with “A princess does not bring her weapon to the table.” Such tutelage is just a nuisance to Merida until she learns her betrothal is nigh.

The lairds of the three clans in Fergus’ kingdom (Robbie Coltrane, Kevin McKidd and Craig Ferguson) will present their sons for Merida’s hand, and one must prove himself worthy. But Merida, who has well established she wishes to choose her own fate, pulls an archery stunt that humiliates her suitors and precipitates a royal blow up between mother and daughter.

“Brave” enters fairy tale land as Merida flees into the forest and finds a gnarled little witch (Julie Walters). Merida has a wish, which the witch reluctantly grants. When Merida returns to the castle she is horrified to discover the results of her wish are more drastic than she expected. Rule No. 1 of fairy tales: Never make a vague wish.

I won’t spoil the outcome of the witch’s spell. You could easily find it in other reviews or online, but it’s more fun to be surprised, as I was (although one of the toys I saw at Target gave me a clue). I will say it sets up one of the funniest games of charades ever depicted. The animators working on the character affected by the spell excel at the pantomime that lies at the root of their art.

The heart of the story is the tumultuous relationship between a teenage girl and her mother, which “Brave” suggests is the same no matter the country or the age. “This is so unfair!” Merida declares before stomping off to her own room.

It’s also significant that none of the three suitors, each a different sort of knucklehead, steps up to become Merida’s romantic interest. She’s independent, but only to a point. To break the witch’s spell she must work with her mother, something her wish has made awfully difficult.

Pixar has seen a mild dip in quality in recent years, but “Brave” raises its standards again. “Brave” doesn’t quite hit the dizzy heights of “Wall-E,” but it is easily the studio’s boldest vision since. The mythical, ancient Scotland it conjures is a breathtaking landscape of tors, lochs and glens. Realized down to the smallest twig, Merida’s beloved forest is practically part of the cast, green with the promise of adventure in the day and black with the threat of death at night.

Robust humor surfaces throughout the adventure as the filmmakers tweak their way through the list of Scottish staples, bagpipes, haggis, caber tossing, blue face paint, etc. To answer the old question of what’s beneath those kilts, Pixar achieves another first: bare bottoms. Hence the PG rating.

Bears figure prominently in the story, as well as the animator’s designs. King Fergus hates the beasts furiously. He lost a leg battling a monstrous bruin called Mor’du years ago, and he sometimes sounds like Robert Shaw from “Jaws” when he details what will happen if he ever encounters that bear again. Hint: He does.

Perhaps “Brave” should arrive at the witch’s scene, which is the crux of the story, sooner, but the script moves at such blazing speed it’s hard to notice. The directors must have kept instructing the voice actors, “Faster! Faster!” You need a stopwatch to clock the velocity of the dialogue, especially during the early scenes when the exposition flies at gale force.

At the center of “Brave” is the captivating, fiery Merida, her emotional journey made credible by Macdonald’s lovely voice. The animators give Merida an unforgettable feature, a crown of unruly hair that blazes about her like a torch. The hair signifies Merida’s early reckless pride, but she learns the lessons of regret and humility the moment her wish becomes a curse.

Merida is the year’s second movie heroine who’s proficient with a bow and arrow, following Katniss Everdeen of “The Hunger Games.” Katniss should be happy she will never come up against Merida in Panem, because Merida’s prowess with the bow is as awe-inspiring as animation allows. Her skill would make Robin Hood quiver.

“Brave”
4 stars
Rated PG for some scary action and rude humor
Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Who’s in it: Voices of Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson, Robbie Coltrane
What’s it about: In ancient Scotland, Princess Merida (Macdonald) defies tradition and refuses to consent to an arranged marriage. After an angry argument with her mother (Thompson), Merida meets a witch and makes a wish. When she sees the unexpected results of the wish, Merida immediately regrets it and desperately tries to break the witch’s spell.