Pinocchio

Not to be confused with Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (also set for release in 2022), this adaptation continues Disney's fascination with remaking its own animated classics as CGI/live-action hybrids. The screenplay from Chris Weitz and director Robert Zemeckis is largely faithful to the narrative of the 1940 animation, from the early appearance of the Blue Fairy to the surreal, climactic trip to Pleasure Island. But there are additions, too, including a love interest for the wooden boy and a handful of forgettable musical numbers. The story itself is timeless and there is some neat production design, especially in the workshop belonging to Geppetto (Tom Hanks). But the film is hampered by ugly-looking CGI, cringe-worthy dialogue and some grating performances from the cast, meaning it never quite recaptures the magic of the Oscar-winning original. Carlo Collodi's source novel has a nightmarish quality to it, but this offering doesn't feel macabre (or whimsical) enough to demand attention.