Pixar's version of a 'bad movie'

Rating: 6/10 (11 January 2013)

Set in the mythical past of Scottish highlands comes a tale of bravery and the limits of family love. Fire-haired Princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald) is destined by tradition to become a promised wife. Nurtured and educated by her mother Elinor (Emma Thompson) she must always stay distinguished, even as her three young brothers let all hell loose on a daily basis. Her father, King Fergus (Billy Connolly) is more lenient, but also more interested in hunting down Mor'du, the great demon bear, than truly standing up for his daughter's independent spirit. Only once a year is Merida allowed to let loose - during her birthday. One year during such an escapade Merida comes across a witch (Julie Walters), who is attempting to enter a new career path as a wood carver. Nonetheless Merida convinces her to cast one last spell, which will allow her freedom to make her own decisions in life. As every such fairy tale spell the wish has dire repercussions...
When Pixar makes a 'bad movie' it is still probably the best animated feature of the year. Naturally animation is perfected year after year, but this time around the story department falters delivering what seems like a substandard fairy tale. Characters are generally very affable, but somewhere along the rushed exposition the movie falls to real lift off when the end credits appear. Despite a few hilarious chuckles, especially centred around creative uses of Scottish kilts, the overall quality on every level is a few steps below what has become expected from the famed stable of animatrix, not to mention the uncomfortable mimicry of the "My Brother Bear" movie. It's a shame that the daughter-mother plot didn't receive a much better impact treatment, given the general characters populating the movie are actually pretty good base material for building a great story.