“Brave” Film Review

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending an advance screening at the Regal Cinemas Bridgeport Village Stadium 18 & IMAX in Tigard for the new Disney/Pixar film, “Brave”. It was a great evening – we were treated to a performance by highland dancers from the Portland Highland Games prior to the start of the film, and also got to watch the short “La Luna” before the main feature started. I was provided with complimentary press passes for myself and two guests, so I brought along Jai and a cousin so that we could all have a fun night out. I was excited to see that this was a 3-D screening, as I had not yet seen a movie in 3-D since we don’t have a theater with those capabilities here in Seaside. We popped on our 3-D glasses and settled in for the main attraction!

I knew I would like this movie since I’m a fan of Disney cartoons, but I enjoyed it even more than I expected. “Brave” has a fun, engaging script that will keep an adult’s attention even though it’s a kid’s film. The main characters are well-rounded and the different elements of the plot tie together well. Visually, the film is stunning, especially in 3-D – the effects are just fantastic. It’s a far cry from the old days of red-and-blue paper glasses, that’s for sure! You know you’re living in a futuristic world when even the ads are exciting because they make you feel like you’re riding a rollercoaster!

“Brave” follows the story of princess Merida, a young woman who wants to eschew tradition much to the dismay of her parents, king Fergus and queen Elinor. Traditional Elinor wants Merida to follow in her footsteps and become a refined lady, but Merida would rather ride off into the forest with her prized bow and arrow – a beloved gift from her mischievous father. I won’t give away too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil it, but the underlying message of this film is the unbreakable bond of family and how important it is to listen to each other and embrace our different personalities and interests. My favorite thing about “Brave” is seeing such a strong female lead – Merida is one tough princess, using her archery skills and resourcefulness to get her through the perils she encounters. Queen Elinor is very dignified – I had to laugh at how hard she tried to maintain decorum and manners even during the most adverse of circumstances, because it reminded me of myself! – but she also fights fiercely to protect her family, and I really appreciated how much depth they gave her character. I think it’s so wonderful that today’s little girls will be able to see a movie with such an empowered princess. I think this film will be especially enjoyed by moms and daughters, as it conveys an argumentative-but-loving relationship between Elinor and Merida and shows us that both of them only want what’s best, even though they have different ideas along the way.

Naturally, this is a kid’s film, so it has all the traditional elements that you would expect from a Disney movie. (I’m pretty sure the children in the theater would have started a riot if Disney tried to go “Art house” on them with an unpredictable ending! ;)) But it’s written in a way that is compelling to adults as well, which makes it an awesome movie for families to watch together.

“Brave” opens this Friday, June 22nd, so if your kids love Disney movies you should definitely check it out this weekend!