Movie Review: ‘Pinocchio Liveaction Remake Debuts On Disney+
Reviewed by Jeffrey Sanzel
Disney continues to revisit classic animation as a source for live action movies. These include 101 Dalmatians (with a sequel and Prequel), Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty (Maleficent, her view changed), Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, Aladdin, "The Lion King," "The Lady and the Tramp" and "Mola." ; Many received mixed reactions, but that didn't stop the flow. Joining this list is the recently released Pinocchio, which is now streaming on Disney+.
Pinocchio was brought up in the children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Italian writer Carlo Collodi wrote about a Tuscan carver named Geppetto who makes a wooden doll dreaming of becoming a real boy. The name "Pinocchio" is a combination of the Italian words pino (pine) and occhio (eye). The icons and adventures of the hero span over three centuries. The doll dreams of existence, offers spiritual guidance, and a nose that grows when you lie (only mentioned once in the fic).
Disney's "Pinocchio" (1940) deserves a "masterpiece" award. Pinocchio, the studio sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), is second only to its predecessor. Three years of work on "Pinocchio" became a huge hit with critics. In an article for The Hollywood Reporter, an unnamed staff writer described the film enthusiastically. "...the picture is a masterpiece that sets another milestone in the path of on-screen entertainment...a new source of joy for [creators] worthy and will be appreciated by the millions who have seen it."
Pinocchio has been seen nearly twenty times on screens big and small. Actors include Pinocchio, Sandy Duncan, Paul Robbins (also known as Bee Wee Hermann), Jonathan Taylor Thomas, and Roberto Benigni. Geppetto is made up of Burl Ives, Danny Kay, Martin Landau, Carl Reiner and Drew Carey. In addition, a number of well-known actors appeared in supporting roles.
For its latest incarnation, director Robert Zemeckis has adapted the script to Chris Weitz, but the entire movie feels like a remake of the original, scene after scene. When he's trying to find something new, the alternate does nothing to improve the story. Instead, it changes itself.
Some new elements are introduced into the plot, but they add little to the overall effect, and even the best moments are missing. Smart touches like cuckoo clocks with Disney pictures (Snow White, Roger Rabbit, Sleeping Beauty, etc.) are welcome but feel out of place. The combination of live actors and CGI makes "real" people appear to be traveling through a virtual reality app.
History remains the same. Inventor Geppetto Pinocchio designs and wishes for a star. Then the doll finds itself in several dangerous scenarios. He meets a fox and a cat sold by Stromboli, the evil puppeteer; a trip to Pleasure Island, where children are made into donkeys and sold; To be swallowed by a sea monster. etc. The spirits of Pinocchio's guide are, of course, Jiminy the Cricket and the Blue Fairy.
Tom Hanks creates a loyal Geppetto, a grieving widower for his wife and son. It lends the character a deep kindness intertwined with a fragile and broken spirit. She smiles at the doll to "always be happy". A picture of her looking for Pinocchio, gathering her adorable cat Figaro and cuddling the cuddly Cleo fish is touching. One could wish Hanks' makeup could have been a little less intense, with bushy hair and a mustache and eyebrows worthy of their zip.
Cynthia Erivo creates a beautiful blue fairy who is totally present. The voice work is good, with Pinocchio that is sweet and never sugary. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives Jiminy Cricket a Southern flair but conveys his anxiety as a puppet pronoun. Lauren Bracco (The Friendly Seagull) and Keegan-Michael Caine as Honest John, the devious fox, are good, albeit a bit frustrating.
The point of the story is that being "real" means being brave, honest, and selfless. Despite the clarity of the wording, the concept sometimes gets lost in visual noise. The pace varies and is often slow. The comedic violence (Stromboli once put Pinocchio to prison) is very untamed. Jokes about Chris Pine, agents, taxes, and the curriculum don't make a lot of noise. The original score is used in a strange and secretive way, almost like a spoken word, and the new songs by Alan Silvestri unfortunately do not improve the film. After all, Pinocchio like light beer and water. All the same, but smaller.
In development: The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan (starring Peter Pan and Wendy), Snow White, Hercules, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Sword in the Stone, Robin Hood, "Bambi", "Cats-aristocrats" and "Lilo" , etc. . Stitch with a sequel to Mufasa: The Lion King, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, and Cruella. Given the history of previous mods, one has to wonder what Disney hopes to get over the money.
PG-rated Pinocchio is now streaming on Disney+.
