Pinocchio - Disney+ Movie - Review

Pinocchio is a movie directed by Robert Zemeckis, stars Luke Evans, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hanks.

Disney+ brings us a spectacular and lively production in this up-to-date 2022 remake of Pinocchio. Zemeckis has once again ventured in creating a hybrid feature film with traditional performances and a lot of computer animation. That he likes this format is no news, as he already proved with Polar Express (2004).

Premise

Geppetto is an elderly woodcarver who makes a puppet he names Pinocchio. The puppet will come to life by magical means and set out on an adventure to prove his worth to become a real human boy, which will require he be honest, kind and good.

Origin of the Story of Pinocchio

The Adventures of Pinocchio is a children’s novel written by C. Collodi, and was first published as a serial in an Italian children’s magazine in 1881, to later be published in a book in 1883.

Review

One wonders whether to compare it to the book from 1883 is worth the distress, because the obvious comparison to be made is with the 1940 Disney adaptation. For glaring reasons Zemeckis’ 2022 adaptation is different to the Disney original animation, and significantly more distant from the book. If the discrepancies with the latter is what bothers critics about the movie, one should blame 1940’s Disney.

In any case, if that is the big issue, the best way to counter it is by reading the book, which is far darker than the movie, or watch Pinoccho (2002) directed and starred by Roberto Benigni, which is more faithful to the book.

In this version of Pinocchio the absolute highlight is the computer animation, which is spectacular. The settings, the colors, the details are impressive.

There are updates in the script, clearly adapting it to the times we live in. For instance, the interesting observation ‘Honest’ John, the devious fox, makes regarding the educational system, questioning the teacher’s aptitude with the funny line “his pedagogy is completely outdated. Is his curriculum child-led? Brain-based for a growth mindset?”

All those modernized detail adaptations in the movie to make it fit in with the present did not bother me in the slightest, as the movie still stands tall as a the great production it is. The performances both in person and voice are as good as they get. Tom Hanks portrays a Geppetto that reaches our hearts with his convincing humility, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an entertaining voice to Jiminy Cricket, and the prize goes to Keegan-Michael Key for his voice-acting as ‘Honest’ John conveying the histrionic character all too well.

The computer animation is, as mentioned, impressive; each take, and sequence seem to fall into place in a colorful and lively event. The computer touch-ups are close to imperceptible, to the point that it makes one wonder what technology has in store for us in the future….will we meld with animated creations? I know, it has nothing to do with the movie, but the thought did cross my mind.

As far as the soundtrack goes, it delivers covers of the 1940’s tracks, although old-fashioned, they are really well performed and they are at the end of the day classics.

It is an amusing, colorful, spectacular, and at times comedic, at others dramatic, movie. Disney has once again worked magic, and it has delivered a good movie for the younger ones.

Release Date

September 8, 2022.

Where to Watch Pinocchio

Disney+.

Other Reviews

“‘Pinocchio’ fails at re-telling [the original story] because it ignores its own advice. Each failed attempt to modernize its beautiful message serves as a reminder of how little it needed updating in the first place”
Christian Zilko: IndieWire

“Far be it from us to actively reveal what scuttles Zemeckis’ film, but let’s just say that it seems like the people who made its biggest creative choices have more wood for brains than the character they brought to life”
Luke Y. Thompson: AV Club