Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Roberto Benigni adapts the classic children's tale by Carlo Collodi for the big-budget family-oriented comedy Pinocchio.
Roberto Benigni's Italian adaptation of Pinocchio is visually ambitious in places but largely disappoints. Benigni casting himself as the wooden puppet despite being in his 50s was a widely criticized choice that undermined the film's credibility. The plot closely follows Collodi's original tale without meaningful reimagining, and the tone struggles to find a consistent register between broad comedy and family fantasy. Cinematography has some decent production design and color, lifting it slightly above average. The ending is conventional and unearned given the tonal inconsistencies throughout. The film lacks the novelty needed to distinguish it from better adaptations of this well-worn story.