Review of Pinocchio (1940) by Randi S — 29 Jun 2011

I never understood why this film was so well respected among critics. It was probably fine for its time, but it hasn't aged well. While this film has a lot in it, it's too slow paced to enjoy as an adventure film, too unfocused to have a compelling plot, and fails to offer a truly satisfactory conclusion to the whole movie.

You may argue that I'm being too harsh on it, but, considering how every other Disney film wraps up all its loose ends by the conclusion, this film is surprisingly empty. Sure, Pinocchio is a real boy at the end and everyone's happy, but so what? What happened to all the villains? This movie is overflowing with bad guys and none of them are particularly memorable. Everyone remembers Monstro, but he isn't really a bad guy so much as just a poor whale who gets caught on the selfish protagonist's journey. One could argue the Coachman is the main antagonist, but nothing really happens with him. What does his subplot add to the whole movie? Does Pinocchio actually learn anything other than don't trust creepy old men?

The pacing of the film is also pretty terrible. It's so slow paced that everything around it seems to drag by. Despite the effort put into making it, it's glacial pacing, lack of substance, lack of general direction even, makes it awfully hard to enjoy. What I do know about this film is that the few good scenes, like the Pleasure Island sequences, are good, but it isn't enough to warrant watching it. I don't think I know anyone who actually can call this film their favorite Disney film, so why is it so damn well-received by critics?