Not Your Grandma's Fairy Tale
What do fatherly love, a corrupt circus, and Mussolini's fascist Italy all have in common? Pinocchio, of course! By far one of the most exciting works Guillermo del Toro's in recent history, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio turns the classic fairy tale on its head. Del Toro brings the beloved character back to life in the historical setting of WWII and combines it with a new array of myths and legends. The film explores love, loss, death, and what it means to be alive.
Off To a Bumpy Start, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio was met with a wave of mixed reviews. What was considered a children's movie about the beloved character Pinocchio instead turned out to be a dark fantasy film. Guillermo del Toro has been famously known for his array of films delving deep into the dark fantasy genre, boarding nearly on horror, such as Pan's Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is no different, feeling similar to a classic Brothers Grim fairy tale. For roughly two hours, the film addresses ideas such as the Nazi party and alcoholism that most children wouldn't understand, let alone their parents feel comfortable having their child see.
To Begin With, the film follows Pinocchio, a crudely made puppet that Geppetto (Pinocchio's father) made in a drunken rage. Pinocchio is now immortal and can now return from death, making him a desired icon for both a corrupt circus leader and a fascist youth leader. Pinocchio tries to become a boy worthy of his father's love after the death of Geppetto's biological son, Carlo. If not for Ewan McGregor's fantastic performance as the whimsical Sebastian J. Cricket, the film would have felt almost too depressing to watch. The adventure finally begins when Pinocchio sets off on his own into the world, all in desperate hopes of trying to please his father by being a good son.
This Is A Film for Adults, and as such, should be treated as mature content. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio revitalizes the classic story of Pinocchio for an audience that is already familiar with a kid-friendly tale. Instead, Del Toro tells a much darker fairytale based on more mature and realistic themes, such as gun violence, manipulation, and World War II. The film is not meant for the viewing of a younger audience but for the enjoyment of an older generation.
The film Is Not Afraid and provokes thought in discomfort by addressing Hitler's youth camps and the faults a person can make when being a father. The film then addresses the idea of losing a child and the despair a parent can feel when that happens. However, the movie cleverly uses all these ideas to focus on the film's central argument about love, how it can never be perfect, and how we still need it to live.
The Rich Art Style and unique storytelling captivate the viewer's attention entirely; combined with the film's fantastic stop motion, one cannot imagine the story told anyway else. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio also excels in its musical numbers, being widely entertaining and well-crafted for an adult audience. Though the narrative can feel chaotic, it captivates the audience through the characters Pinocchio meets. Each new location the film visits is followed by a life lesson that Pinocchio learns, testing him physically and emotionally.
However, at times the flow of the story can feel repetitive and almost forced with the life lessons. At times the only saving grace is the voice actors' widely engaging performances and musical performances. The diverse cast of characters does help carry the film in the less exciting scenes while also helping to set the film's mood.
Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio is genuinely a spectacle to behold. It diversifies itself not only in the world of stop motion but in the world of fairytales itself, retelling a beloved childhood tale in a much more mature light. The film inspires joyful wonder in a much grimmer reality for a more mature audience.
