DVD Review

Pinocchio

Roberto Benigni?s version of Pinocchio is so laughably bad that it almost makes the experience of watching it entertaining.

The film is well shot and yet poorly operated in just about all the ways it could manage; you begin to wonder why there are unknown filmmakers out there who could benefit the moviegoing society with their talents, only to be deprived access of that responsibility by studios. Pinocchio answers that mystery ? people like Benigni have the power and the money to make something like this possible on the big-screen, even if it does happen to be God-awful in just about every way, shape, and form.
After holding the world in awe with Life is Beautiful, which, depending on the viewer, could alter one?s outlook on life (much like About Schmidt), Roberto Benigni seemed as if he was on a great track. Critics and audiences alike adored him for his cheery attitude toward human existence, and with Benigni?s overall charisma he gave off the impression that he could accomplish literally anything.

Well, I think I spoke too soon on that one. Pinocchio, his "take" of the classic fairy tale, is one of those films that could actually work if operated smoothly enough; then again, a lot of concepts run like that in the ways of possibilities. But with this idea (especially with Benigni?s gem), one would predict that he could make quite an enjoyable and charming flick.

But one really has to ponder, as with the premise involving a nearly 50-year old Pinocchio character, is Benigni going after a family audience or an adult crowd? Let alone the atrocious reviews this production retrieved, one of the crucial blaming factors to the flick horribly bombing was probably in its marketing in terms of reaching demographics ? just who the hell is this movie really for?

Watching the film play out, there are plenty of children?s movie trademarks and cues; but really, Benigni has run into an identity crisis, as he can?t quite figure out what to do with this general concept. You think it?s a family movie, but you are never quite certain; that?s only the beginning of the problems in store for this complete disaster of a film.

For a film that is essentially woven around a fantasy plot, believability doesn?t have to be completely 100% for fulfillment to be present; but in Pinocchio, literally nothing feels real nor magical. With the film?s opening scene, a wooden block that illogically bounces its way around a small plaza is immediately turned into Benigni (as Pinocchio) once the owner carves him out in a workshop. This sequence is so poorly done that the members of the Razzie association were probably already going down the list of potential nominations this film would fall under; and that was just a few minutes in.

The dialogue written for the production seems to be clearly aimed at a family demographic, yet unfortunately for the studio I doubt many youngsters will find this film. The direction by Benigni is loud and charm-less, with his character happily bouncing around making trouble with sound effects added in to support the supposed goofy mood. As if Pinocchio (the film itself) didn?t have enough troubles, the feature is dubbed in English with Breckin Meyers? (Road Trip) voice as Pinocchio inserted. As the flick plays out, you?ll also hear various other well known performers pitching their vocals in ? all standing out, as the characters they voice have no physical relation whatsoever.

You can also view the film in its Italian language version with English subtitles, which in some arguments could be viewed as a Godsend prior to viewing; but then again, reading the subtitles will probably heighten viewer frustration of what is already an unbearable film. You might question what made my rating fall above the F rating division if the film was so truly miserable; the introduction is surprisingly pretty decent, only to then give in to the next scene that is far from that quality region, let alone the rest of the film

But as bad as Pinocchio truly is, I?ve seen worse; that by no means is a strong compliment to this film, but one must pay credit when it is due. For the ten people who actually saw this in a multiplex auditorium, I feel your intense pain ? that is, if you stayed for more than fifteen minutes.

DVD Features:
- 2 Full Length Films
-- Original Latin Language Version
-- Hollywood Dubbed in English Version
- The Windows of Pinocchio: FAO Schwarz Holiday Windows in New York
- The Voices of Pinocchio: Creating the English Dubbed Version
- Widescreen

Audio Features:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Lee's Grade: D
Ranked #142 of 143 between Pluto Nash (#141) and (#) for 2002 movies.

A	0.4%
B	30.0%
C	61.7%
D	8.0%
F	0.0%