'Brave' has been some six years in the making for animation studio Pixar, with the Scottish-set story growing with each passing calendar day. The film is finally out however, and there'll be a lot of pressure on it living up to past Pixar smash hits like 'Toy Story' and its follow-up, 'Monsters Inc.', as well as 'Cars' and 'Up' among others.
So what do the critics think? Pretty good, seems to be the consensus. USA Today comment "It's a lively, psychologically astute tale filled with humanity, wit and charming performances", whilst The Los Angeles Times reckons "If the Walt Disney Studios logo were the only one on "Brave," this film's impeccable visuals and valiant heroine would be enough to call it a success." The Chicago Sun Times meanwhile says "The good news is that the kids will probably love it, and the bad news is that parents will be disappointed if they're hoping for another Pixar groundbreaker."
However it's not all good news for the studios, The New York Times says "While the mother-daughter clashes may make the story "relatable," they drain it of its mythopoetic potential, turning what could have been a cool postmodern fairy tale into another family melodrama." The San Diego Union-Tribune meanwhile comment "It's disappointing that the team of writers, including Andrews and Chapman, failed to redefine what it means to be a heroine in big-budget animation." Still, with 72 per cent on reviews aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes, it's not looking bad.