Review: ‘Brave’ is beautiful but plays it too safe

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Queen Elinor (from left voiced by EmmThompson) King Fergu (voiced by Billy Connolly) Princess Merid(voiced by Kelly Macdonald) triplets Princes

Queen Elinor (from left, voiced by Emma Thompson), King Fergu (voiced by Billy Connolly), Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) and triplets Princes Harris, Hubert and Hamish in "Brave." | Disney/Pixar photo

Princess Meridvoiced by actress Kelly Macdonald follows Wisp this scene from animated feature 'Brave' which opens big screen June 22.

Princess Merida, voiced by actress Kelly Macdonald, follows a Wisp in this scene from the animated feature "Brave," which opens on the big screen on June 22. | Disney/Pixar photo

The animated adventure 'Brave' centers around Princess Meridwho is voiced by Kelly Macdonald. | Disney/Pixar photo

The animated adventure "Brave" centers around Princess Merida, who is voiced by Kelly Macdonald. | Disney/Pixar photo

In 'Brave' Princess Merid(voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is not typical girl. | Disney/Pixar photo

In "Brave," Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is not the typical girl. | Disney/Pixar photo

Kelly Macdonald who voices character Princess Merid'Brave' was also Ravenclaw's ghost Grey Lady 'Harry Potter Deathly Hallows: Part 2.'

Kelly Macdonald, who voices the character of Princess Merida in "Brave," was also Ravenclaw's ghost, the Grey Lady, in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." | Disney/Pixar photo

KevMcKidd voices Lord MacGuff(from left) 'Brave' which also features Robbie Coltrane voicing Lord Dingwall Craig Fergusvoicing Lord MacIntosh. |

Kevin McKidd voices Lord MacGuffin (from left) in "Brave," which also features Robbie Coltrane voicing Lord Dingwall and Craig Ferguson voicing Lord MacIntosh. | Disney/Pixar photo

'Brave' which focuses Princess Merid(voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is set Scotland. | Disney/Pixar photo

"Brave," which focuses on Princess Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald), is set in Scotland. | Disney/Pixar photo

Kelly Macdonald voices character Princess Merid'Brave' Pixar's 13th feature. | Disney/Pixar

Kelly Macdonald voices the character of Princess Merida in "Brave," Pixar's 13th feature. | Disney/Pixar

★★ Pixar is long overdue for a feature with a strong female character at its center. Now that she’s arrived, it’s clear that she deserves better. “Brave” is beautiful to look at, as you would expect given the technical and artistic standard the animation behemoth …