Dr. Donna's Review

About the Film

The story of Pinocchio, the wooden puppet whose dream is to become a real boy, has been told again and again for more than a century. In this telling of the story, we are in the year 3000. Geppetto works in a futuristic workshop somewhere in the futuristic city of Scambolville. A mixture of real people and robots populates Scambolville. Mayor Scamboli, an unpleasant character who thinks that the technological city is magnificent, oversees the city. He wants more steel and glass and less trees and grass. Scamboli's daughter, Marlene, argues with him saying that there is nowhere for kids to play in Scambolville. Scamboli gets the idea to create an amusement park for children. But instead of creating it as a place where children can be free and have fun, he sees it as a way to “contain all kids in one place.”

Geppetto works for Scamboli. He is an inventor who develops new robots, new robotic technology and new inventions such as the “sunbrella,” an umbrella-like creation that puts sunshine over the person who holds it. But, Geppetto's favorite project is his work on the roboboy, Pinocchio, the puppet that will be his son. The day finally comes for Geppetto to send the power surge through the roboboy puppet. When the chamber opens, Pinocchio steps out and immediately bonds with his dad, Geppetto. Just as in the classic story, both Pinocchio and Geppetto have the dream that someday Pinocchio will be a real boy and for that to happen, Pinocchio needs to learn right from wrong. He has both friends and a few enemies along the way on this journey. There is Cyberina, the fairy who tells him that she can make him into a real boy when he demonstrates that he has learned the difference between right and wrong. There is Spencer the Penguin who serves as his sidekick and who provides humor to the story. There are the children Cynthia and Zack who help him understand what “real children” are like. There is Marlene, Scamboli's daughter who turns out to be one of Pinocchio's best friends and allies. And, there is Mayor Scamboli who, after attempting to turn all of the children in Scamboland into robots, gets turned into a robot himself.

There are wild adventures at Scamboland Park where anyone who takes the ride through the Tunnel of Danger is turned into a robot. There are situations in which Pinocchio, as he is learning to navigate the world, tells lies and his nose grows to great lengths. But, in the end, Pinocchio is able to figure out how to save the kids of Scamboville, outsmart Mayor Scamboli, demonstrate that he has learned the difference between good and bad, and be transformed into a real boy.

About the Kids
The story of Pinocchio, like many of the classic fairy tales, has an intrinsic interest for children of all ages. Younger children, 3 to 5 year olds, may have difficulty following the overlapping storylines and abrupt scene changes. If parents choose to take young children, it may be helpful to read them the story of Pinocchio in advance so they know the basic story then sit near them to help them follow the storyline. Older children will resonate with the basic story and its message. They may also especially enjoy the futuristic elements of the production.

Parents should be aware that the animated rides through the Tunnel of Danger are somewhat intense. Younger children may find this frightening. Parents could prepare children for these scenes by discussing them in advance.

Film content and features
The story is delivered through computer animation. The color palette of the futuristic city is dark and gloomy as befits the sinister motives of Mayor Scamboli. The darkness provides a stark contrast to the ending of the movie when Cyberina transforms everything into a beautiful green and flowering place where Scamboli no longer reigns.

There are two robots working for Scamboli. One resembles an armadillo. The other has characteristics of a minstrel show performer. It is unfortunate that the producers would select this characterization for a character that comes across as bumbling and not very bright.

Things to talk about
There are many themes that parents can discuss with children after seeing the film.

Some examples of questions to pose to children include:

• Why does Pinocchio want to become a real boy? Why would that be better than being a roboboy?

• When Pinocchio played the Imagination Game with Marlene, he lost the game but said that he won. How could we tell that he lied about winning? Were there other times in the movie when Pinocchio's nose grew longer?

• What kind of person was Mayor Scamboli? Nice or not nice? What kinds of things did he do to make you feel the way you do about him?

• Did Scamboli deserve to be turned into a robot? Why?