‘Pinocchio’ on Disney Plus is a nose-nonsense adventure
As a means of distraction from the world today, we are working our way through all of Disney’s full-length animated films in chronological order. “Pinocchio” is second in the lineup, which was released three years after “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
There are similarities between the two flicks. They begin with big, opening-book scenes and there’s merry dancing in a cabin featuring character clumsiness. I might not have noticed if I watched them three years apart rather than three days apart through the modern-day magic of Disney Plus. “Pinocchio” doesn’t include any royalty, but it does have a host of villains, including Honest John, Stromboli
(an evil puppet maker), a coachman (“I’m collecting stupid little boys!”) and Monstro the whale.
The basics: Geppetto is a carver, and among his projects is a marionette named Pinocchio. One night, the older man wishes upon a star, which somehow summons the Blue Fairy, who gives Pinocchio a chance to become “a real boy.” But there’s always a catch; it would be a short film otherwise. Our little wooden pal must act brave, truthful and unselfish as well as know the difference between right and wrong. Adventures and poor decision making ensue. Jiminy! Where is that conscience when you need him?
The legacy: Disney won two Oscars for “Pinocchio,” including one for “When You Wish Upon a Star,” a song that rings through Disney advertisements and its theme parks 80 years later.
The flashback: My childhood “Pinocchio” memories focus on the nose-growing element, which is really only one scene in the 90-minute film. But it resonated with little would-be liars (and their parents). The Blue Fairy is back with this on-the-nose warning: “A lie keeps growing and growing until it’s as plain as the nose on your face.”
Adult art of animation appreciation:
Walt Disney took his “Snow White” profits and poured them into a studio and animation innovation. I noticed it most during an overhead shot of the village, down through the clouds. (It also gave me Magic Kingdom vibes from the Peter Pan’s Flight ride, which flies above little, glow-in-dark London.) The underwater scenes — leading up to the whale and including that sneeze that Pinocchio cooks up — are ambitious and executed nicely. Sidebar: Today I have a strong appreciation for the name Monstro.
What brought me back to reality (a.k.a. coronavirus alert): “A cricket can’t be too careful, you know,” Jiminy reminds us early.
Burning questions: There are several, um, hind-end moments, particularly near the beginning of the film. Jiminy Cricket lifts his coat to warm his buns next to an ember, and soon thereafter leans against the rump of a lady figurine (he apologizes). One of Geppetto’s many wall clocks features a mother taking her pants-around-ankles son over her knee, and a music box conductor has big ol’ butt, like he’s about to twerk. There are more … Who knew Disney’s got back?
The theme park angles: We can see Pinocchio (and Monstro, looking unusually festive) daily in the Festival of Fantasy parade at Magic Kingdom, where there’s also Pinocchio Village Haus, a counterservice restaurant in Fantasyland that gives diners a view into the “it’s a small world” loading area.
One of Pinocchio’s misadventures takes him to Pleasure Island, a carnival with the same name of our old Downtown Disney nightclub district. The film version says that’s “where every day is a holiday,” which parallels the long-running slogan of Disney World’s P.I., where it was New Year’s Eve every night. (Film version: “And it’s all free” provides another snap back to reality.)
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