--- title: "Brave: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/brave/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/brave" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 20 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Brave (2012): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 20 reviews: 10 positive, 7 mixed, 3 negative. The reviews lean towards a qualified welcome for Brave, with praise clustering around its detailed animation, Scottish landscapes and mother-daughter relationship. Critics repeatedly find warmth and humour in that central bond, while Merida’s spirited personality earns approval even where the storytelling disappoints. Several reviews enjoy the mixture of family feeling, comedy and adventure, though enthusiasm for the craft is more consistent than confidence in the script. The spread is wide, and comparisons with Pixar’s earlier films account for many reservations: familiar plotting, limited ambition and a lack of surprise recur across otherwise differing verdicts. The Wrap is among the strongest supporters, praising the balance of laughs, thrills and familial love. The Guardian takes a sharply opposing view, finding the story bland and objecting to the way Merida’s pursuit of independence brings her back into the family unit. Elsewhere, even sympathetic reviews question how fully the film develops its ideas about responsibility. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3.5/4. 21 June 2012. Ebert gives the film a positive verdict. He singles out its mother-daughter relationship for praise. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/brave-2012) ## Radio Times — Brian Pendreigh Rating 4/5. Pendreigh gives the film a positive verdict, calling Merida a memorable creation. He singles out her fiery personality and the film’s first female central character. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-hq7u32/brave/) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2012. Edelstein finds the film fast, funny, and unpretentious, praising its lively mix of farce, sentiment, and suspense. He especially singles out the comic, moving scenes between Merida and her bear-transformed mother. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2012/06/movie-review-pixar-brave.html) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2012. Debruge finds the film conventional by Pixar standards but moving and refreshingly versatile. He especially praises its poignant exploration of the mother-daughter relationship, brought to life through Emma Thompson’s performance and protective actions as a bear. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/brave-1117947728/) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 9 April 2008. Nathan finds Brave an enthralling, visually lovely film, though less ambitious and less surprising than Pixar at its best. He praises its animation and the mother-daughter relationship, while faulting the predictable story and softened moral. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/brave-review/) ## Screen Daily — Brent Simon Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2012. The review’s verdict is unavailable because the article text is behind a paywall. The page does not reveal what the critic praised or criticized. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/brave/5043162.article) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the film intermittently thrilling, though its patchwork plot only holds together well enough. It praises the plausible mother-daughter conflict and engaging side characters. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/brave-2) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 3/5. 7 August 2012. Johnston gives the film three out of five, a measured verdict. The available description places it against Pixar’s history of advances in digital animation, but the review text is unavailable to identify a specific praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/brave) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 3/5. 30 July 2012. Smith finds Brave entertaining and technically ambitious, but a creative misstep that leaves Pixar treading water. He praises the spirited heroine, the film’s visuals, and Patrick Doyle’s traditional score, while criticizing the magical plot twist. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/brave-1-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Richard Scott Larson Rating 2/4. 15 June 2012. Larson finds the film a stale, shallow take on female independence and mother-daughter responsibility. He criticizes how the story silences tradition without considering why it existed. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/brave/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2012. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film visually delightful but dramatically safe and less inventive than a typical Pixar film. He especially praises the painterly rendering of Scotland and the voice performances. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/brave-film-review-335633/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 22 June 2012. Turan finds the film visually impressive but disappointing by Pixar’s standards, citing familiar characterization and an overly broad tone. He praises its gorgeous Scottish setting and emotional ending, while criticizing the plot’s turn and prolonged bratty behavior. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2012-jun-22-la-et-brave-20120622-18-story.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 9 August 2012. Bradshaw finds the film bland and unsatisfying, with little of Pixar’s usual wit or smart self-awareness. He particularly criticizes its story for binding Merida back into the family unit just as she seeks independence. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/aug/09/brave-review) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2012. The critic strongly recommends the film as an exhilarating adventure and hilarious comedy. They praise its mother-daughter relationship and the balance of laughs, thrills, and familial love. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/brave-review-finally-disney-princess-who-isnt-defined-prince-44636/) ## Den of Geek — Mark Harrison Rating 4/5. 11 June 2012. Harrison finds Brave a return to form for Pixar, though it may not rank among the studio’s very best. He especially praises the richly detailed Scottish landscapes and the film’s mother-daughter relationship. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/brave-review/) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Rating 4/5. 10 August 2012. Reynolds finds Brave moving, funny and entertaining, though it lacks the distinctive storytelling and magical feel of Pixar’s earlier films. He praises the character animation, especially the bears, and singles out the short La Luna as an absolute peach. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a390387/brave-review-pixar-heads-to-the-scottish-highlands/) ## HeyUGuys — Jamie Neish Rating 4/5. 10 June 2012. The review is strongly positive, calling the film spectacular and praising its emotional story about a mother and daughter. It singles out the detailed animation and the film’s heartfelt core as particular strengths. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/brave-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 June 2012. Wilkinson finds the film an enjoyable, thoughtful adventure that balances broad appeal with ideas about family. She especially praises its expressive visuals and the way they convey the mother-daughter relationship. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/brave-2012-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 7/10. 13 June 2012. The critic finds Brave entertaining and worthwhile, but says its journey is not especially compelling and it falls short of Pixar’s usual depth. They praise its gorgeous music, goosebump-inducing scenes, and funny moments. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/521567/brave-review-pixars-latest-hits-target-struggles/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating C+. 21 June 2012. Goldberg finds Brave visually lush, humorous, and heartfelt, but ultimately timid and familiar. He praises the comic moments of Elinor trying to communicate as a bear, while criticizing the shallow mother-daughter lesson. [Read the review](https://collider.com/brave-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/brave.md