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Brave

Critics Consensus

Brave offers young audiences and fairy tale fans a rousing, funny fantasy adventure with a distaff twist and surprising depth.

79%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 243

76%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 278,972

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Brave Videos

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Movie Info

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late. -- (C) Disney

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Cast

Kelly Macdonald
as Merida
Emma Thompson
as Queen Elinor
Billy Connolly
as King Fergus
Julie Walters
as Wise Woman
Kevin Mckidd
as Lord MacGuffin
Craig Ferguson
as Lord Macintosh
Robbie Coltrane
as Lord Dingwall
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Critic Reviews for Brave

All Critics (243) | Top Critics (51)

  • The main problem is that Merida craves adventure but Brave limits her to mother-daughter psychodrama.

    Nov 18, 2013 | Full Review…

    Rafer Guzman

    Newsday
    Top Critic

  • By the climax, at which all right-thinking viewers will have dissolved in a puddle of warm appreciation, the new Pixar film has earned two cheers and a big bear hug.

    Nov 18, 2013 | Full Review…

    Richard Corliss

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • The story for this revisionist fairy tale, which promotes contemporary attitudes about parenting and gender equality, is less inspired than usual for Pixar, but the movie upholds the studio's high standard of computer animation.

    Nov 18, 2013 | Full Review…

    Ben Sachs

    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic

  • Unsatisfying for all ages.

    Aug 9, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • No, not another Pixar classic, but for full-on family fun it's a brave effort.

    Aug 7, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Trevor Johnston

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • The story, with its patchwork of plots (involving feuding clans and disastrous spells), holds together enough to thrill intermittently.

    Jul 2, 2012 | Full Review…

    Bruce Diones

    New Yorker
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Brave

  • Jun 19, 2016
    An interesting and different kind of Pixar movie, Brave may not be for everyone but it remains a strong showing from Pixar - and a great one to show both young girls and young boys about the importance of family and trust.
    Matthew M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 14, 2015
    It's about as bland as you could ever expect a Pixar movie to be. In fact, nothing about this movie screams Pixar. It's the type of movie that's so by the books you expect to find it in the 5$ blu ray bin at your local Wal-Mart. Nothing about this movie felt magical and even the comic relief characters completely failed to entertain. If you're planing a Pixar marathon, you might want to skip this one.
    John K Super Reviewer
  • Jan 04, 2015
    In "Brave," Merida would like nothing more than to run around with her bow and arrow all day. But as a princess, she has certain responsibilities that her younger brothers do not, like presiding over a competition of three suitors for her hand in marriage. All of whom she promptly embarrasses with her superior bow skills, before getting in an argument with her mother and then running away into the forest where she comes across a witch minding her business. With the entertaining "Brave," Pixar's winning streak of high quality animation continues. But at the same time, Pixar's DNA commingling with Disney's is taking shape, and it's not entirely pretty, as there are also anachronistic silliness and minor vulgarities here. Even worse is how the movie harps on Merida's so-called selfishness. Careless, maybe(like nobody ever learned anything from "Macbeth" concerning witches in Scotland) but not selfish. Because if Merida does not make a stand here, she is going to be a doormat for the rest of her life.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • Apr 19, 2014
    At the heart of this Pixar offering is a tale of first, a mother/daughter falling out and then, their eventual reunion. The vocal talents are exemplary (with Emma Thompson leading the way) and , true to form, Pixar's legendary animation knows no equal. The delving into the whole Scottish myth and fable was nice and interesting path to take, if reminiscent of How To Train Your Dragon, and so what then? The story meanders into the woods a bit is all. Something about bears. There's a witch, too. The witch is cool. Nonetheless, Pixar, eh? You can't go wrong there, can you?
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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