Going where no cartoon has gone before...

 I saw "Brave" today.  It was funny, cute, entertaining, touching, and the artwork was lovely.  It was eerie and lyrical, and told its story without too much in the way of simpering, but just enough sweetness to make you care.  The friends I was with (as well as the other ten people in the theatre at 9:30 on a Sunday) laughed throughout the whole movie.  That is why it struck me as odd that when I asked what everyone thought about it, they all shrugged and said "it was ok."

Now, I've been with people at movies they didn't love, and their reactions were usually similar -- but those reactions had never before been preceded by near-constant laughing and the odd "aw" here and there.  There has always been an air of "meh" through the whole film, culminating in a sort of cold fish feeling at the end.  But this movie wasn't a limp handshake--why did it get a cool reaction?

I talked to my husband about it and came to a conclusion.  "Brave" was different.

I listen to my friends talking all the time about how they wish studios and writers would put out more original works.  "Why is everything a sequel or remake?" they're always asking.  They lament the "Disney ending" and the predictable plot twists.  Then, they see something different and it leaves them feeling confused and uncomfortable.  I think they answered why studios keep putting out the same material -- that's what sells.  People are more likely to go to something familiar than something new and unusual.

A preview before "Brave" was for some thing from the Teletubbies creators, apparently.  It was a manic sort of en mass play date for toddlers.  Now, ignoring how ridiculous it is to take kids that young to a movie theatre to watch something that's just as good at 7 am on public access, there was a serious problem with the preview.  They list the two boy characters as "scientific" and "adventurous" or some concocted variation on those descriptors.  The girl character, though, was "sparkly".  That's right, the males are described as smart and brave and the female is defined by some kind of weird, materialistic quality.  It is unfortunate to see that sort of thing getting approved by studios.

It made me all the happier to see a character who was a princess unwilling to be defined by materialism or socially imbued "femininity".  I'm someone who loves fairy tales, and "Sleeping Beauty" is my favorite Disney movie, visually (while Cinderella has my heart for nostalgic reasons).  I love a princess getting rescued by a prince, I love pretty gowns and courtly speech and all manner of frivolous things.  However, when I was a little girl, my doll would get rescued by the GI Joe, then she would rescue him right back.  My toys led armies and governed countries.  Female characters from stories I wrote as a child made policies and laws, founded libraries, schools and hospitals, and most importantly, always fought for themselves.  

I loved seeing "Merida", the princess at the center of "Brave" standing up for herself.  She isn't happy sitting around and sewing quietly, though there's nothing wrong with that.  Yet, for someone who loves to climb giant rocks, race through the woods on a horse, and shoot dozens of arrows at targets she's placed around the forest, sitting quietly can seem nearly impossible.  It was wonderful to see a character--a girl--who was not docile, and did not seem to feel the need to repress herself entirely for the sake of the men.  It's downright heartwarming that she identifies herself and her needs, still clearly loving her family, even if she needs time to learn to understand them.  In fact, it was the first time that there was a princess character who seemed genuinely interested in the world, not just so she can meet a prince, but so she can live her life.

I guess I can understand why my friends were nonplussed at the end of "Brave".  The character wasn't the sweet, subdued princess they were used to seeing.  She didn't climb to a mountain top to sing about a prince in a world full of potential suitors, but to drink from a fountain where only the brave seek hydration.  She isn't giving up her dream or herself to be with the one man she loves and must follow, nor does she cause trouble out of anything other than adolescent rashness and confusion.  Her life isn't revolving around the idea of someone else, but around herself and how she relates to her family.  It's the first time in a long time that I saw a teenage girl being portrayed as a child hoping to grow up, but not entirely prepared-- exactly like a real teenager -- convinced of her rightness while still wanting her parents to approve of her as she is.

"Brave" may not have been perfect, but it was a story I hadn't quite heard before, beautifully realized and artistically stunning.  It was witty and effective, and I'm glad I saw it.  I understand that people may be struck by the oddities in the film, but I think it's well worth it to try to see things in a slightly different way.  It's still a lovely story, but it's finally something about being oneself in relation to oneself, rather than one's prince.

I rambled, and it's late and I'm exhausted, but I'll proof this tomorrow :)