Brave (2012)

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

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.

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.

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

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

Though it falls short of the studio's best in many respects, Brave is ravishing to look at. Merida's carrot corona is alone worth the price of admission.

It still looks great, the scenery coming alive with richly landscaped hills, jagged peaks and crystalline waterfalls, but rarely has it ever been said of a Pixar film that the visuals are the most compelling part.

As a Pixar production, Brave is perhaps lacking in the usual abundance of wit and wisecracks, but in its place is a reservoir of insight into the mother-daughter dynamic.

Everything here is tied together beautifully, at an inimitably comfortable pace.

With all its spunk and determination, it's easy to see how close Brave gets to the bull's eye of Pixar perfection.

Pixar's 13th full-length film is the studio's first to feature a female as its central character, and a memorable creation she is, too.

Brave continues the Pixar tradition of blazing new mythical trails. And Merida is perfect as a princess with no pre-feminist baggage to apologize for.