Walt Disney is known for making high-grossing animated movies before and after the death of its founder Walt Disney himself.
There are many bread crumbs spread throughout the film that come together in the serendipitous conclusion (so much so that it might just have viewers wanting to start it over to watch again).The Darker Corners of Pinocchio Not as welcoming as it looks Though there are lessons of following your dreams and sticking up for friends, they aren't as obvious as they might be in other children's movies. There's also just enough humor and intrigue that the adults in the room might be able to tolerate yet another Pinocchio story. The magical adventure has talking animals and a simple plot for a younger audience to follow. Jon Heder's animal sidekick character provides comic relief as well as good advice. Instead of sounding like a young child, Pinocchio speaks more like a man with dry humor. Pauly Shore's spin on Pinocchio is exactly what fans of his might expect, which gives the character an older feel than viewers are used to. Though the animation quality leaves a little to be desired, that's made up for with the delightful voice cast. The classic adventure story is retold with a humorous spin and infused with a love story. Pinocchio: A True Story is not your average fairy tale. Will he be able to warn Bella about the danger and overthrow the crooked circus leaders? With the help of friends, Pinocchio has to outsmart his captors and learn what's possible with the power of love. But before he can, Pinocchio learns he's been wrapped up in a criminal gang that steals from the audience and is captured once they learn he's on to them. In an effort to win over Bella, the wooden hero tries to find a fairy who can turn him into a human. He doesn't realize until it's too late that the ring leader doesn't have good intentions.
Pinocchio begs his father for his blessing to join the circus and go explore some of the world. When Pinocchio helps stop a runaway circus carriage, a blue-haired girl named Bella catches his eye. Pinocchio ( Pauly Shore) is a talented acrobat who loves to ride around his father's home on his talking loyal steed Tybalt ( Jon Heder). Instead of a lengthening nose, Pinocchio's love is what grows. In PINOCCHIO: A TRUE STORY, the familiar tale starts out the way viewers expect, with Geppetto making a wooden puppet who comes to life. Mojafocco him self merely cackles and snarls at the camera, and is not scary in the slightest. The low-rent digital effects round things out, from blobby-looking blood to a "menacing" scarf that slithers through the water. Even the performers who can manage to deliver a line can't get around the silly story and poor dialogue and decision-making, especially the fact that Pinocchio gets taken by Modjafocco three times. Jon Heder makes Uncle Tibalt seem especially pushy and not exactly the most sympathetic character, while Pauly Shore makes Pinocchio seem rather annoying. (The main female character is adopted and may or may not be of Latino descent, but she doesn't speak Spanish and identifies as White.)Įven if viewers choose to overlook that (though why would you?), other issues in Pinocchio: A True Story include the subpar performances (with the exception of Danny Trejo he's still cool). A good place to start is the way Pinocchio: A True Story appropriates Mexican culture, not only borrowing the monster, but also focusing on a White family while viewing the Latino characters as either "bad men" or helpful servants or side characters. This cheesy horror tale, which cashes in on a monster made famous in bigger-budget movies, glides confidently into the "so bad, it's good" realm, making ill-advised choices in nearly every capacity. Where previous iterations of this story have focused on the consequences of lying, this version highlights the importance of love, loyalty, family, and friendship. Mild language includes "dumb" and "stupid." Pinocchio's loyal steed Tybalt encourages him to face his fears and stick up for friends. They wind up having to face the consequences of their actions.
The ringmaster is a rude and bossy leader to his subordinates, who are responsible for much of the violence. The audience may momentarily worry about the fate of a main character. There are moments of danger and perceived peril throughout, including characters being locked in wagons and gagged. This animated tale has violence, including a trigger-happy cat who works alongside a shady ringmaster and fires his weapons multiple times, including hitting (but not injuring) the main character. In this version, Pinocchio develops a crush and falls in love. Parents need to know that Pinocchio: A True Story is a comedic spin on the classic tale.