Film Review: "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" (2022).

"From the visionary director of Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water" comes Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio. This stop-motion animated musical fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson, adapted by del Toro, Matthew Robbins, and Patrick McHale, and based on Gris Grimly's 2002 edition of the 1883 Italian novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro reinvents the classic story of a wooden puppet brought to life in this stunning stop-motion musical tale.

In 2008, del Toro announced that his next project, a darker adaptation of Collodi's 1883 Italian novel was in development. He has called Pinocchio his passion project, stating that: "no art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio", and "I've wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember". Unlike most versions, which take place in an unspecified time in the 1800s, del Toro has said this version will take place in 1930s Italy under the rule of Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party. In mid February 2011, it was announced that Gris Grimly and Mark Gustafson would co-direct a stop-motion animated Pinocchio film adapted by del Toro, his long-time collaborator, Matthew Robbins, and Grimly based by Grimly's 2002 edition of the novel, with del Toro producing along with The Jim Henson Company and Pathé. In mid May 2012, del Toro took over for Grimly. In February 2012, Del Toro released some concept arts with the designs of Pinocchio, Geppetto, the Talking Cricket, Mangiafuoco and the Fox and the Cat. In late July, it was announced that the film would be produced and animated by ShadowMachine. In August 2012, Nick Cave was originally attached to compose the score for the film. However, in early January 2020, Alexandre Desplat ultimately replaced Cave and started composing the film's score, as well as writing original songs for the film. The film was originally scheduled for a 2013 or 2014 release date, but the project went into development hell, with no further informations for years. In late January 2017, McHale was hired to write the script with del Toro. In August, at the 74th Venice International Film Festival, del Toro said that the film will need a budget increase of $35 million more dollars or it would be cancelled. In early November, he reported that the project was not happening, because no studios were willing to finance it. At one point, Robbins considered making the film as a 2D-animated film with French artist Joann Sfar to bring the costs down, but del Toro eventually decided that it had to be stop-motion, even if the higher budget made it harder to get greenlit. However, in late October 2018, it was announced that the film had been revived, with Netflix acquiring it. By late August 2020, Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Burn Gorman, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro and Gregory Mann were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place in Guadalajara, Mexico and Portland, Oregon. The visual effects for the film was provided by the Moving Picture Company.

The film stars the voice talents of McGregor, Bradley, Waltz, Swinton, Perlman, Wolfhard, Blanchett, Gorman, Nelson, Turturro and Mann. Thanks to the performances of the talented voice cast, especially Bradley and Mann, Pinocchio's relationship with Geppetto is lovely, even when the wooden boy is nothing like his dead son, continuously disobeys and does not change at all.

The film is a personal look into del Toro as an artist (something that's been said by almost every critic so far, bear with me) as well as a look into the genre and medium that he loves. There's no question that in venturing into the world of stop motion animation, del Toro has lovingly tipped his hat to to old school stop motion animation flicks. It shows not only a reverence for the Italian literary classic, but also feels to at least this animation lover that del Toro is making a statement about the viability and value of animation as a classic genre of film capable of the highest level of artistry. The puppetry is simply superb as is texture; it's excellent attention to detail from The Jim Henson Company. The film, which made me cry almost as much as the audibly sobbing kids in the theater, is a big-hearted optimist's tale beautifully warped through del Toro's trademark vision. The film is inventive and fun. Del Toro fans will likely love it. Others will take pleasure from specific qualities and moments within the production, but also have as much feel for the film as a whole. This film is a complete package that maintains a good pace and tells a captivating story through stunning animation. Even better, the story of the wooden boy with the borrowed soul shows that del Toro has still got plenty of wonderful heart and soul to bring to the big screen. The sheer number of warm-hearted but soulful winks to various iterations of Pinocchio both entertains and impresses. Del Toro, known for his dark yet thoughtful movies, has created a fantastical tale of imperfect fathers and imperfect sons that is fun and touching. The film is a surprisingly heartwarming one that is perhaps del Toro's most touching film since The Shape of Water. It ranks among del Toro's most personal films, encompassing familiar themes of choice and an insatiable drive for disobedience. The film beautifully merges the old with the new as it also celebrates filmmaking both literally and fictionally with its relatable protagonist. The film embodies the excitement, innocence, awkwardness and imagination of childhood. Disney should've had more faith in the original source material's darker elements back in 1940, when it mattered, instead of allowing del Toro to utilise the novel's darker elements and make a masterpiece that is superior to the Disney version.

Simon says Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio receives:

Also, see my review for Nightmare Alley.