Brave - B-

Rated PG, 93 minutes

Uneven but exciting "Brave" features colorful, sublime visuals

"Brave" is the first Pixar feature to have a female lead

It wouldn't be summer without a Pixar movie, and their new effort "Brave," their 13th animated CG film and for the first time featuring a female in the lead, finally arrives in theaters with much anticipation. Pixar is known for creating animated films with a balance of stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling, but "Brave" is not on the same level of say "Up" or "Toy Story"; it has breathtaking visuals yet a weak, craggy story that flounders a bit. It's not terrible, but I do wish a more touching story could have been crafted around such a beautiful, distinctive heroine. "Brave" is about Merida (Kelly MacDonald), a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of Scottish 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: finding a suitor. Merida's stubborn 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. This forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late. "Brave" is an enjoyable, sprightly amusing fairy tale with a charming, tough heroine in bushy-haired Merida, yet the story, for once, is the weakest thing about this Pixar effort. Though it's far from dull, the uneven tone has trouble finding its footing between spry, comical amusement and the dark elements of the fairy tale; "Brave's" assortment of writers and change in directors (Brenda Chapman directed some early one but was replaced midway through by Mark Andrews, and both are credited as co-directors and writers) certainly contribute to the uneven pacing. "Brave" doesn't lack in excitement or fun, and the visuals are still scrumptiously bright and detailed, even if the story lacks the intelligence and emotional heft of other Pixar features. On that note, it may be a disappointment, but "Brave" is still a pleasant, enjoyable time for the young set.