For me, Pixar movies are like Pearl Jam albums* -- I'm excited for every single one of them to come out I'm constantly ranking them all in my head. Apparently, I'm not alone because it seems as though every discussion of Pixar's latest film, Brave, inevitably turns into a debate over where the movie fits into the studio's hierarchy of greatness.
So, let's get that out of the way. Brave falls pretty much right in the middle of the Pixar pack. It's not as good as Wall-E or Finding Nemo, but it's better than A Bug's Life and Monsters, Inc. Basically, it's in the same territory as Up or the first Toy Story movie.
For those of you that are now compiling your own Pixar rankings, please stop trying to convince yourself that The Incredibles belongs near the top...it's good, but it's not that good.
Anyway, moving on.
Much has been made of the fact that Brave is Pixar's first movie with a female protagonist. I think that's great. But, it's also their first real journey into familiar territory. I had anything you could call a complaint about this movie it would be that the studio seems to have made this movie with one creative arm tied around its back.
The folks at Pixar, having made a pact with Satan that ensures that every one of their movies will be amazing, have been most successful when they've ignored convention and taken risks with creative storytelling. But, Brave is essentially a new entry into the Disney pantheon of animated princesses. It has much of the same emotional impact of Pixar's best work -- the trademark whimsy and loving attention to character arcs and development -- and it's as visually stunning as anything they've made. But, it just doesn't break much new ground in terms of the story.
The movie tells the story of Merida, a Scottish princess longing to escape the trappings of her royal life. She's an ace with a bow and arrow and an accomplished horseback rider. Yet, she's trapped by her mother's insistence that she abide by tradition, particularly the tradition of arranged marriage.
You basically can get all that from the trailer. There are major elements to the story that are only hinted to in the previews and I won't spoil them here. However, with the exception of one major plot-twist, the story unfolds in a more or less predictable manner. But, in the end, the journey is more important than the destination. And, though you can see almost everything coming from a mile away, every step the movie takes to get there is immensely enjoyable.
I feel like I'm cutting this off short, but, honestly, the studio has done such a good job of keeping from spoiling the major plot developments that I'd feel like it'd ruin it for others if I were to say much more.
Ultimately, the only negative thing I can say about Brave is that it's not as good as other movies. That's weak criticism, I suppose, and the worst kind of nit-pickery. But, let's face it, Pixar brought this kind of criticism upon itself.
*Yes, I'm well aware that Pearl Jam is no longer in vogue among today's hipster intelligentsia. Get over it...they're awesome.
