Disney’s Pixar Brave tells the story of strong-willed and impetuous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson) who insists on carving her own path in life and defies an age-old custom, turning to an eccentric old Witch (voice of Julie Walters) for help. She is granted an ill-fated wish that inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom. She must discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it’s too late.
There was so much to like about this move. Strong female characters like Merida, the heroine of the movie and her mother, Queen Elinor really drive the 
story. Merida is so strong-willed at the beginning of the movie and wants not to follow in her mother’s the Queen’s footsteps by insisting on during her own thing but learns from her ill-fated wish that she is wrong about her mother wanting the best for her. The Queen is equally strong-willed and wanting her daughter to be like her but also learns that she really doesn’t know her daughter at all. Another reason, I loved the Queen is that she is the voice of reason when all the men, including the King are just a bunch warring galoots.
Brave’s message of Be careful what you “wish” is a great cautionary lesson especially for children in the audience who don’t always get their way, my daughter includes. Merida proclaims, “I want a spell that can change my fate!” to the with and boy does her wish not goes as she expected. Great teachable moment for my daughter who got the message.
The rest of the cast was equally hilarious. The princes vying for Merida’s hand were just too funny and really added to the movie. P.S. the screenwriters really got me on the who will end up with Merida question, never saw how this movie was going to go.
I loved the setting for the movie. Obviously, being set in Scotland is for the most part like having another character in the movie, plus the addition of the Scottish culture, the kilts, the accents, the haggis which only the adults would get that reference.
And finally, I have to admit that the Pixar folks have outdone themselves with look of the movie. The colors of the countryside, the landscape, Merida’s red hair and so on was the best I have seen ever in a movie. Just stunning.
I would definitely recommend Brave as the movie is full of memorable characters, signature Pixar humor and is a plain old grand adventure. The film opens June 22, 2012, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters. P.S. Again, 3-D version was okay so don’t pay the extra for it.
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Disclosure: NYC Single Mom previewed Brave in advance of the June 22 opening.
