BRAVE (U)
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connelly, Emma Thompson, Kevin McKid, Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, John Ratzenberger
Director: Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman
Running time: ---
Released 18th June (US), 17th Aug (UK)
Released by: Disney/PixarIf there are some words synonymous with quality, Pixar must surely be one of them. Whether the stories are aimed at your particular demographic or not, there’s simply no denying that they’ve set a benchmark for the use of family-aimed animation. The Toy Story franchise, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc. and the quite wondrous Up! (the latter telling a more nuanced life-long love-story in its first five minutes than Twilight could manage in three movies)… are just a few examples from their extensive, award-winning library.
The latest title to join them in the firmament is Brave.
Merida (Macdonald) is the young flame-haired daughter
of Fergus (Connelly) and Queen Elinor (Thompson). Living in a traditional Scottish
castle (one that has thankfully avoided too much glaring Disney fairy-dust, in
favour of traditional moss and damp stone), her father allows her much of the freedom
her wilder spirit requires – such as racing through the deep, dark woods and
mastering archery from the back of her trusty steed - while the Queen tends to
roll her eyes and wish her daughter would have a higher degree of etiquette. Kids, today, eh? However times are changing and Fergus knows
that the various clans must join together if they are to survive. As tradition
demands, the clan leaders are invited to attend a meeting, bringing their sons –
and Merida must choose a husband. Naturally the teenager is horrified at her
mother’s instance that she must accept this destiny, fearing her wild spirit
will be quashed in the same way her red hair is being squeezed into a more
demure bonnet for the ceremony.
Fleeing into the wood she comes across a witch/wise woman (Walters)
whom she persuades to help her change that destiny. The problem is that Merida
is more earnest than specific and the result of the wish may have tragic
consequences for her entire family. Unless she can find a way to reverse an
ancient curse within two sunrises, it won’t just be Merida’s destiny that has
been changed forever.
This latest Pixar outing could well be described as the
company’s first true ‘fairy-tale’- equally the first to put a female character
front and centre. All the rest have been contemporary or abstract stories, but Brave is firmly grounded in the
highlands of Scotland. Of course, it’s full of the traditional Scottish
stereotypes, played to the hilt (kilt?) with a manic glee, exaggerated
slapstick and humour, but they are used in such respectful , fun and entertaining ways, that I would challenge anyone to find reason
to be truly offended. It's been done with a certain amount of love and respect for the tropes and familiars and tweaks them all. Indeed, when I watched the film recently in Edinburgh itself, the audience positively embraced it.
And for every slapstick pratfall, there’s an equal measure
of pathos; for every obvious joke, there’s another that is more nuanced. (This must be the first Pixar movie to ever even
subtly reference The Wicker Man).
While it tilts to the needed whims of a moral fairy-tale format, it also doesn’t feel
SO bound and trussed to them as to be boring. This is no tale of a celtic ingenue waiting to find her completion by being swept off her feet by a Prince. Merida needs a bow, not a beau.
Rumours that the original plan for the central story was considerably darker (original director Brenda Chapman, who shepherded the original idea, left after production started and Mark Andrews took over) can be felt peeking through from time to time. Again, this is not your basic average everyday ordinary run-of-the-mill ho-hum fairytale. The lessons learned here are satisfying but not without some cost and while this is a period piece with a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, there’s a modern flare to attitudes within. As with every Pixar movie, there’s something for all ages within and a story playing on several levels.
Rumours that the original plan for the central story was considerably darker (original director Brenda Chapman, who shepherded the original idea, left after production started and Mark Andrews took over) can be felt peeking through from time to time. Again, this is not your basic average everyday ordinary run-of-the-mill ho-hum fairytale. The lessons learned here are satisfying but not without some cost and while this is a period piece with a mother-daughter relationship at its heart, there’s a modern flare to attitudes within. As with every Pixar movie, there’s something for all ages within and a story playing on several levels.
One thing that should not go without mention is the tremendous soundtrack.
It includes the score by Patrick Doyle, the closing credit theme by Mumford
& Sons and also Julie Fowlis, who I’ve
had the pleasure to see and hear perform her material live, contributing two
songs (Touch the Sky and Tha Mo Ghaol Air Aird a Chuan) - they are both memorable – the kind that you’ll find yourself
humming casually days without annoyance. They're currently on my iPhone.
It would take a stony heart to find any serious fault with Brave. If it lacks a singular completely knockout
moment, it still hits every single target towards which it aims its quiver of whimsical,
magic-dipped arrows. The animation is of the top-most quality - the sheer technical
achievement of the CGI hair of both Merida and the menacing bears that appear
in the woods is amazing and some of the landscapes and backdrops are almost
photo-realistic. The voice-cast are clearly having fun. Wisely, Andrews and
Pixar head-honcho John Lasseter took onboard suggestions from their Scottish
cast (Connelly, Macdonald and also Kevin McKidd finally able to use his native cadence and dialect) over the specific
language and the team united to resist other Disney executives who wanted the
language to be made more gentle to international ears. (Hence, Connelly’s omnipedal Fergus still has a ‘manky leg’ and
one of the chieftans’ sons is a ‘numpty’). It may still represent a more global view of Scotland than the natives', but there’s not a single ‘dude’ or american twang to be
heard throughout.
The only problem that Brave could considerably have is that the poster
depicting Merida’s flame-coloured locks flowing in the wind will undoubtedly
bring unbidden the similar-framed visage of troubled Mirror newspaper magnate Rebeka Brooks (ironically complaining
of timely witch-hunts herself!). Rid yourself of that comparison as quickly as
possible and Brave totally excels in
its aim.
Beautiful to look at, great to listen to and all-encompassing enough for you to see without the kids if you so wish, Brave is another winner for Pixar. Screened with the equally charming Pixar short ‘La Luna’, you’d be hard-pressed to find
a more engaging all-ages movie this summer. It opens in America on 18th
June and in the UK on 17th August…
5/5
2 comments:
You do have a way with words John. Thank you for this insightful review of what looks like a a real winner.
Thank YOU, Carmel. Definitely one to see.
It's already out in US, out in the UK in August. Not sure about your neck of the woods...
Post a Comment