Pinocchio Review: Another Fun, Average, Disney Remake

Happy Disney Plus Day 2022! In a packed slate for the streaming service, a colorful new version of Pinocchio, directed by Robert Zemeckis and cast with faces new and old, is one of the most featured and talked-about elements of the event for fans and critics alike.

It should be noted right away that if you are in the camp against all remakes of classic Disney movies, this version isn’t going to change your mind. If you wonder why it had to be made…you’ll probably still be wondering.

This isn’t to say this new Pinocchio is an exact copy of the original with only the addition of CGI. Many of the changes that have been made are important and welcome. Classic or not, there’s a lot of problematic elements in the 1940 (yes, really) film—especially in a 2022 light.

There’s plenty more to be found in the details. Some of these, like a wall full of clocks depicting decades of Disney films, are truly magical. Others, namely a few references that try too hard to be timely and clever, just feel clunky in execution.

The best parts of the film are those that focus on Pinocchio and Geppetto, a point we’d all expect even without Tom Hanks playing the famed clockmaker. With Hanks backing him, this Geppetto is loveable, humble, and at times heartbreaking.

Unfortunately, those moments are kept almost entirely to the first and last parts of the movie. Pinocchio’s adventures and tactical lessons about temptations, either alone or with Jiminy Cricket at his heels, take up the majority of the screentime.

It’s a decision likely meant to cater to younger audiences—AKA, the “new generation” being introduced to this old story. In that sense, it’s a great call to make. These scenes are packed with action, drama, and fun visuals.

There’s something very theatrical about certain plot points and performances. I use the term literally. Characters like Honest John feel as though they’re being played for the stage, not the screen. That actually makes perfect sense given the context.

Still, this can all feel heavy-handed to parents watching with their kids or those hoping to rekindle the magic they felt watching the classic story for the first time. We can understand the appeal to the young title character, but at times it borders on obnoxious.

There are welcome additions, too, in characters like the breathtakingly beautiful Blue Fairy who grants Pinocchio sentience and Fabiana, a young friend he makes along the way. These, of course, are “good” characters, not only for being wholesome, but simply for being likeable.

Now a moment for the obvious. This is a visually stunning movie, both in CGI imagery and real life scenescapes. Geppetto’s village feels warm and welcoming. The lands outside it are vibrant, enticing, and overbearing.

Personally, I don’t see any way to truly seamlessly blend CGI and live film elements. Here, too, Pinocchio and Jiminy contrast with everyone around them. Of course, this particular move has a special advantage, because as a wooden boy, Pinocchio is supposed to stick out.

So should you sit down right now to watch this movie? If you have kids, probably so. If not, it’s up to you. Again, if you’re feeling cynical about this portrayal and remakes in general, it’s hardly revolutionary enough to change those standards.

Yet if you love Disney new and old, have a taste for adventure, or just want to have a good time, click “play” and enjoy. It’s at least a thrill for the eyes and at best a lovely tribute updated in thoughtful and necessary ways. And, when all else fails, there’s always Tom Hanks.

 

What did you think of Pinocchio? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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