US film censors fail to see the funny side of Brave’s cheeky scenes

IT IS the film from the makers of Toy Story and Finding Nemo Scottish tourism bosses are pinning their hopes on to become a worldwide smash.

But American censors have dealt cinema giants Disney and Pixar a blow after slapping a PG rating on their eagerly-awaited fantasy set in the Highlands Brave.

Scenes of kilted characters lifting up the traditional Scottish garb are thought to have earned the film the rating, with the first official ruling from the Motion Picture Association of America on Brave warning that the film contains “rude humour”.

The light-hearted scenes have been featured in several of the trailers and the kilted characters in the film have even been given their own “viral teaser” which is a spoof of fashion industry ads.

Film bloggers have raised eyebrows at the news that the film has been given an initial PG rating by America’s film censors.

Merida, the first female character to front a Pixar film, has already become a major fixture at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom, in Florida, while a range of action figures has been launched. The film – which is said to be set in a fantasy version of historical Scotland, with a rebellious princess sparking chaos in her kingdom – will be released in the US next month but is not due to arrive in the UK until August.

Stars such as Billy Connolly and Robbie Coltrane are expected at its European premiere in Edinburgh next month.

However, parents have been advised to explore the content of the film before allowing their children to see it.

The film’s PG rating was revealed in the latest bulletin from the Motion Picture Association of America. Its official guidance for PG films states: “Parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children, and parents should make that decision. There may be some profanity and some depictions of violence or brief nudity.”

In one scene featured in Brave trailers, one character is seen lifting his kilt and loudly declaring: “Feast your eyes.”

Pixar’s teaser, said to promote a new product by “Ruff McLauren”, states: “What makes a man feel like a man, is it tossing logs, is it fighting bears, or is it freedom – the freedom a man feels when he is wearing a small plaid skirt?”

One film blogger, John Young, said: “It’s definitely worth a laugh, but for me, the movie’s advertising campaign is starting to raise some concerns. I feel like Disney’s trailers and ads have emphasised the “rude humour” aspect.”

A spokeswoman for VisitScotland, which is spearheading a £7 million campaign to promote Brave, said: “The Scots are very good at laughing at themselves and we think the film captures our sense of humour perfectly. It all looks harmless fun.”