Brave

Since The Avengers came out all the way back in May, this summer movie season has been lacking in anything approaching greatness, which is why so many are excited about the new Disney/Pixar film Brave.

When you hear Pixar is involved with a movie, visions of Toy Story, The Incredibles and Ratatouille start dancing in your head as their reputation and track record for greatness precede them. However, Brave is not like all of those other Pixar movies.

Kelly Macdonald provides the voice of Merida - a Scottish princess with a strong will and stronger archery skills. While Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson) wants her daughter to be a more traditional princess, and makes every attempt to teach her more lady-like ways, the two seem to be getting driven further and further apart by their own stubbornness.

It all comes to a head when King Fergus (Bill Connolly) invites the leaders of the other three Scottish clans to present a young man worthy of winning Merida's hand in marriage. She's not all that into the arranged marriage thing (especially since none of the guys look like George Clooney or Justin Bieber), which leads her to run away into the forest, where fate, and an evil witch (Julie Walters), put Elinor at great risk, unless Merida and she can make peace with each other.

It's very difficult to say Brave is a movie for little kids as our heroine fights peril at every turn. Death and danger are intense in this one, which might be too much for the typical audience for an animated picture. To the creative team's credit, not only are the facial expressions and emotions so compelling in cuter moments, but, in the scary moments, the reactions of bears, warriors and more is stunning.

Also making this one a better fit for older kids and adults, Brave is a movie about relationships, especially those between teen girls and their mothers, not exactly the type of stuff you make toys out of (although, the idea of a Merida doll with a pull string that has it scream, "Mooooooom, you just don't understand," is kind of funny). Writers/directors Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman and Steve Purcell (along with writer Irene Mecchi) rely on the age old battles and family dynamics to draw in the audience.

It is that emotional pull that makes Brave better than most. It has a message to convey, no matter how obvious or sappy it might be. And, I think that's why you might find yourself tearing up a little bit at the big climax because the creative team has mostly avoided too much silliness and too much kiddie shenanigans. It's real, honest relationships and emotions we all recognize.

Leave the kindergarteners at home, and take your tween daughter to this one, if she is willing to be seen in public with you.

Brave is rated PG for some scary action and rude humor.