Critics Consensus: Brave Is Rousing and Heartfelt
Plus, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is oddly muted, and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World is inspired but sentimental.
This week at the movies, we've got a bow-wielding princess (Brave, with voice work by Kelly Macdonald and Billy Connolly); a slayer-in-chief (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, starring Benjamin Walker and Mary Elizabeth Winstead); and an apocalyptic love affair (Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, starring Steve Carell and Keira Knightley). What do the critics have to say?
Brave
78%
Pixar has finally added a female lead to its stable of animated stars, and while critics find Brave to be a cut below the studio's finest works, it's still a rousing, beautifully animated tale with some funny gags and a lovable heroine. Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is a princess who balks at her mother's plan for her life, preferring to romp about the Scottish countryside with her trusty bow and arrow. However, when Merida impulsively asks a witch for a spell to change her destiny, she unintentionally throws her kingdom into chaos. The pundits say Brave isn't the sharpest story in the Pixar cannon, but it's a visual marvel with a strong protagonist and heartfelt scenes of mother-daughter bonding. (Check out 24 Frames for a pictorial rundown of Pixar's history.)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
35%
One would expect that a movie titled Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter would deliver lots of goofy gory thrills. Critics say that's only half correct; while the movie has a couple of deliriously weird moments, it's surprisingly muted and serious given its premise. When his mother is killed by a vampire, Honest Abe (Benjamin Walker) vows revenge. So he establishes a successful law practice, is elected to public office, and tries to preserve the union -- all the while wreaking havoc on the bloodsucking undead. The pundits say Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is visually striking, but its odd mix of biopic and action spectacle makes for uneven viewing. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we run down memorable movies featuring historical presidents.)
Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
55%
An apocalyptic romantic comedy, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World has a concept that seems designed to divide critics. Some say it's buoyed by inspired casting and a number of touching moments, while others say it's too contrived and sentimental to fully resonate. An asteroid is headed straight for Earth, so lovelorn Dodge (Steve Carell) decides to seize the day and go on a road trip with his free-spirited downstairs neighbor Penny (Keira Knightley). The pundits say Seeking a Friend for the End of the World hits on some big themes with delicacy and tact, but some find it too much of a tonal mishmash.
Also opening this week in limited release:
- The Invisible War, a documentary about sexual assault within the armed forces, is at 100 percent.
- Nate & Margaret, a dramedy about the close friendship between a young film student and a fifty-something aspiring comedienne, is at 80 percent.
- Kumaré, a gonzo doc about a filmmaker-cum-holy man who finds a group of people following his questionable teachings, is at 73 percent.
- Woody Allen's To Rome with Love, starring Alec Baldwin and Penelope Cruz in a comedy about a group of people falling in and out of love in the Eternal City, is at 49 percent.
- The Last Ride, a fictional account of the last days of country music legend Hank Williams, is at 38 percent.
Bentley Lyles
Suprisingly enough, this week's wide releases all got three stars from Roger Ebert. I plan to catch Brave this weekend. Some reviews say that the film starts off well and then it becomes more of a kids movie toward the end. Anyways, I love Pixar and I can't wait to see this movie for myself.
I knew Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter wouldn't be a hit with the critics. I was expecting mixed or average reviews. The plot does sound entertaining so I'd like to rent it once it's available. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World also sounds interesting. Thats another I would rent. TWO WEEKS LEFT UNTIL SPIDER-MAN!!!
Jun 21 - 04:47 PM
Rebecca Clark
Whereas "Cars 2" was a letdown, "Brave" is, luckily, helping critics and Pixar buffs wash the nasty taste away.
Jun 21 - 05:18 PM
Bentley Lyles
I haven't seen Cars 2 since I'm too afraid to watch a bad Pixar film. I plan to rent it pretty soon.
Jun 21 - 05:30 PM
Lyle Bandoquillo
Cars 2 was not that bad. I actually preferred it over the original Cars, mainly for all the cool characters and fast pace. And it's definitely better than Madagascar >;-(
Jun 21 - 05:47 PM
Christopher Aull
Quite right. I don't think it was that bad. Yes, it's lackluster compared to the other Pixar movies, but it was OK on its own merits. I'd give it a 60%. It lacks the heart that the others had, but it's still entertaining and has really good animation as always. Don't listen to all the hate, they're probably overreacting just because almost everyone expects perfection from Pixar.
Jun 22 - 11:55 AM
Just'Manoj Here
Cars 2 is not a bad movie. But it gave me a lot of headache though. It's an average animated film.
Jun 24 - 12:27 AM
Josh Leitzel
Spider-Man! It looks so good!
Jun 21 - 06:08 PM
Jimmy Gee
I also suspected the same from Abe Lincoln. I think that maybe most of the critics are missing the point. The director said that they wanted the only joke to be in the title of the movie. The fact that the subject matter is treated so seriously is pretty funny--this was supposed to be an epic horror/thriller/action affair, not a comedy. The comedy was supposed to be understated. The real challenge was for the author to make a compelling vampire story that was totally out of the box, and the book did an admirable job accomplishing this feat. Now, I'm not sure if the film accompished this task as well, but from what I've heard so far he at least stayed true to the basic idea. For now, I'm not too concerned yet about the reviews. I think some of them wanted it to be more humorous, not serious, and others think its just a stupid idea. At least its a fairly original idea...at least they took a risk. I can't fault the storytellers there.
Jun 22 - 06:57 AM