Common Sense Media Review
By Danny Brogan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ponderous Braveheart "sequel" has sporadic graphic violence.
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Why Age 15+?
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Robert the Bruce
What's the Story?
After suffering a number of defeats at the hands of the English, ROBERT THE BRUCE (Angus Macfadyen) informs his men that the rebellion is over. But with a bounty on his head, Robert is soon attacked. Injured and with nowhere to go, a family of peasants find him and take him home to nurse him back to health. Once recovered, Robert must decide whether he has the strength to once again take to the battlefield and deliver Scotland its independence.
Is It Any Good?
For a movie that centers around one of Scotland's most iconic historical figures, this plods along. Robert the Bruce was touted by some as an unofficial sequel to 1995's Braveheart -- not least because Macfadyen reprises the role of Robert the Bruce as he did in Mel Gibson's epic. But whereas Braveheart was a chest-thumping ride of a movie, here we're left with navel-gazing interspersed with occasional but brutal violence. Most of the movie centers around Robert's recovery -- both physical and mental -- as he must determine whether he has the strength and resolve to lead a rebellion of troops that are dwindling in numbers and belief.
The movie was co-written and co-produced by Macfadyen, but despite also taking the title role, he spends much of the movie hiding in a cave or recovering in bed. And it's to the movie's detriment. Instead we're left with a family setup that could have been condensed into a few scenes rather than stretched out for much of the movie. Jared Harris' appearance as John Comyn is fleeting and Anna Hutchison's narration is annoying -- only highlighting her patchy Scottish accent. With the Outlaw King -- starring Chris Pine -- covering the same material but far more entertainingly, it's difficult to see why you'd opt for this inferior telling of Robert the Bruce's story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Robert the Bruce. Did it feel realistic? Did that affect how you felt about it? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What was Robert the Bruce fighting for? Discuss patriotism. Is it a good thing? Can it be a bad thing?
How did this movie compare to other movies that tell a similar story, such as Braveheart and Outlaw King?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 24, 2020
- Cast : Gabriel Bateman , Talitha Eliana Bateman , Mhairi Calvey
- Director : Richard Gray
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Signature Entertainment
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : History
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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