Pinocchio is a beloved classic movie, and Disney, in their quest to redo everything, has once again decided to remake a movie instead of coming up with original material. But with a cast that includes Tom Hanks, the question is will this movie delight or fall flat? Additionally, is there content that parents will object too? This Disney Pinocchio Christian Movie Review will give you the information you need before viewing it with your family.

Disney Pinocchio Christian Movie Review Synopsis: 

From Disney+ “Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live-action and CGI retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, the woodcarver who builds and treats Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as if he were his real son. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience”; Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo is the Blue Fairy; Keegan-Michael Key is “Honest” John; Academy Award® nominee Lorraine Bracco is Sofia the Seagull, a new character, and Luke Evans is The Coachman.”

Disney Pinocchio (Live Action and CGI) remake of Walt Disney’s original 1940 animated classic follows the storyline from the animated show, which was created from the Carlo Collodi fiction story, “The Adventures of Pinocchio.” 

This movie not only follows the original Disney Pinocchio storyline, but it also has many of the same characters such as Stromboli, Jiminy Cricket, as Pinocchio’s conscience) and the Blue Fairy. 

Disney Pinocchio What Parents Want to Know

The Good:

The movie has very little objectionable content, which I detail below. The movie’s overall plot is very similar to the animated with a few changes.

Furthermore, they did make a change that I found refreshing. Instead of the Blue Fairy appearing every time Pinocchio finds himself in a tight situation, Pinocchio makes wise choices that reverse the course. This shows that we can have an impact on our own lives by the choices we make.

The Bad:

My number one objection to this movie is Tom Hanks. First, he does not sound like an Italian man, and his voice is too noticeable to play Geppetto. Furthermore, he goes in and out of character. There were times when I thought I was watching Toy Story and Sheriff Woody was talking.

Additionally, there are things within the movie that would not be possible in the time setting of the movie, such as a cuckoo clock depicting a cowboy.

The storyline itself is creepy. Geppetto builds a puppet of a picture of his son, and the entire scene surrounding that was just weird.

Additionally, the hands of some of the animal characters are human and odd looking.

Language: 

“What the cuss” is spoken. Additionally, the following words are used: jerk, H-E-Double hockeysticks, and Jack-A-s (however, a donkey brays while saying it).

Violence:

Pinocchio is thrown out of school by the teacher. He is put inside a cage. Pleasure Island is not a happy place and depicts children rioting and looting. There are bricks thrown through buildings. If you have children that have witnessed riots or vandalism, this could prove to be traumatic.

Pleasure Island is also a place where children are lured into thinking they will have a good time and then are enslaved to work in the salt mines. While that may have been the reality in the original movie, and in some areas of the world, that still is happening, modern-day slavery of children in the United States involves sexual abuse and exploitation. These are tough conversations to have with children, but are necessary in the times we are living in.

Scary Images:

There are smoke monsters with glowing eyes that are very evil looking, and they gather up the boys and girls who have turned into donkeys. Pinocchio and Geppetto are also swallowed by a sea monster (not a whale as in the original movie).

The Blue Fairy fails to impress and has a very small role. However, in scenes where you expect the Blue Fairy to show up, she does not. Some of Pinocchio’s troubles go away on their own when he shows himself to be brave, truthful, and unselfish.

Disney Pinocchio Christian Movie Review – My Viewing Recommendation:

I cannot tell a lie; therefore, I will say watch the original Pinocchio and enjoy it. Tom Hanks really ruins Geppetto. He switches between his voice and a bad Italian accent. His laugh sounds like Woody in Toy Story. Additionally, the music and singing cannot compare with the original movie. 

If you must watch it, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Walt is surely shaking his head and wondering if there was anything he could have done to prevent this train wreck.

Movie Facts:

Rating: PG for Peril/Scary Moments, Rude Material, Language

Family, Fantasy, Musical

Release date: September 8, 2022 Direct to Disney+

Runtime: 1 hr., 51 min.

The cast of Disney Pinocchio:

Jiminy Cricket: Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Geppetto: Tom Hanks

Pinocchio: Benjamin Evan Ainsworth

Signore Rizzi: Angus Wright

Blue Fairy: Cynthia Erivo

Signora Vitelli: Sheila Atim

Sofia: Lorraine Branco

Honest John: Keegan-Michael Key

Headmaster: Jamie Demetriou

Stromboli: Giuseppe Battiston

Fabiana: Kyanne Lamaya

Sabina: Jaquita Ta’le

Lampwick: Lewis Lloyd

Coachman: Luke Evans

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Screenplay by Robert Zemeckis & Chris Weitz

Producers: Andrew Miano, Chris Weitz, Robert Zemeckis, Derek Hogue

Executive Producers: Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine, Jeremy John’s, Paul Weitz

Music Composed by: Alan Silvestri

Original Songs by: Alan Silvestri & Glen Baillie

Based on Disney’s Animated Classic and “The Adventures of Pinocchio” by Carlo Collodi

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where Can I watch Disney Pinocchio (2022)?

Disney Pinocchio (2022) is streaming on Disney+ beginning September 8, 2022.

Are there Easter Eggs in Pinocchio?

All of the cuckoo clocks in Geppetto’s house have Disney movie references. There is Toy Story, Donald Duck, Roger Rabbit, Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo, Lion King, Snow White. 

Cinderella Castle can be seen in one set.

Items that pay homage to the original animated Disney Pinocchio:

There are cuckoo clocks that were in the original Pinocchio. One has a man coming out of a bar.

Is this movie identical to the 1940 Disney Pinocchio?

Robert Zemeckis has weighed in on this. “The original animated film is a vast departure from the source material. We use the 1940 Disney version as a template and an outline for our story. So it follows pretty much the same adventure that the Pinocchio follows in the animated version. We modernize the storytelling because there was a different sort of pacing in movies sixty years ago than there is now, but we basically kept the spirit and the tone and the theme of the first movie.”

Scenes such as when Pinocchio’s ears turn into donkey ears and he grows a tail are still in this movie. The scene where he is locked in a cage and his nose grows from lying is also present, however, it lacks the substance from the original movie.

Differences between the original 1940 Pinocchio and 2022 version:

1940 versus 2022 Versions

Drinking alcohol versus Drinking root beer

Smoking cigars versus Eating sugar

Additionally, in the 2022 version, they use social media, bullying, looting and rioting as vices.

Also, there are both boys and girls on Pleasure Island. And Pleasure Island seems like a creepy version of Walt Disney World. Children are seen rioting and looting.

Monstro is no longer a whale but has become a sea creature in the 2022 version.

What other films has Robert Zemeckis been involved in?

Back to the Future

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Death Becomes Her

The Polar Express

A Christmas Carol