Overview of The Adventures of Pinocchio LIVE! (Classic)
This is a live episode of How Did This Get Made? recorded at the Chicago Theatre. Hosts Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael watch and riff on the 1996 live-action film The Adventures of Pinocchio (starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas in the title role and Martin Landau as Geppetto), dissecting its plot choices, tone, production oddities and disturbing/erotic subtext. The show mixes scene-by-scene reaction, audience Q&A (including librarians who confirm elements from Carlo Collodi’s original book), trivia, and host verdicts on whether the film is worth watching.
Key takeaways / Main points
- The film is tonally inconsistent: a children’s fairy tale frequently veers into dark, surreal and overtly sexual imagery.
- Production elements (CGI, accents, puppet work) are widely criticized—effects often look unfinished and characters’ accents/performances are uneven.
- Many plot choices line up more with the original Pinocchio book than with Disney’s version (e.g., children turned into donkeys to be skinned), which explains some of the darker material.
- Hosts found it disturbing rather than charming; consensus: not appropriate for kids and generally not recommended for casual viewing, though it has “so-bad-it’s-weird” value for film-curiosity.
- The episode includes listener/audience interaction, trivia (budget, box office, soundtrack contributors) and promotional plugs.
Topics discussed
Plot and major deviations
- This version contains many of Pinocchio’s classic adventures (being part of a puppet show, Pleasure Island-like scene where boys turn into donkeys, being swallowed by a sea monster) but with grimmer, more adult-inflected treatment.
- The film emphasizes Geppetto’s romantic subplot with Leona, which the hosts felt introduced awkward implications.
- The moral lessons tied to lying/the nose are underplayed and irregularly used.
Tone, visuals and effects
- CGI and visual effects are described as poor or “previs-level” — characters often look out-of-place or cheap.
- Many sequences feel overtly sexualized (examples: bathtub scene with Geppetto and Pinocchio; provocative nose shots), which increased the hosts’ discomfort.
- Point-of-view and cheap CGI shots were used frequently, creating unsettling imagery.
Performances & casting
- Martin Landau praised for presence, but his chemistry and several staging choices (e.g., bathing clothed) raised eyebrows.
- Jonathan Taylor Thomas has top billing but is on-screen/in vocal presence limited; the puppet and the boy don’t always visually match.
- Rob Schneider, Bebe Neuwirth (referred to as B.B. Neuwirth in the episode) and other supporting players drew mixed reactions for odd characterizations and costuming.
- Wallace Shawn was reportedly slated as the cricket’s voice but is not the final voice in the theatrical release.
Music & production notes
- Brian May (Queen) wrote an extended puppet-opera piece for the film; the soundtrack also features a Stevie Wonder song.
- Puppet required nine months to build and was operated by 12 technicians.
- Budget: ~$25 million; opening weekend: ~$3 million; release: 1996. The film performed poorly commercially.
Source material & book connections
- Audience/librarian confirmed: in Collodi’s book, boys are turned into donkeys and killed for their skins—this film’s darker elements reflect the original tale more than Disney’s sanitized version.
- The darker original explains some of the film’s disturbing beats, though the film’s execution amplifies shock value.
Notable quotes & memorable lines
- “This was straight up garbage.” — succinct host reaction to the film.
- “Somebody in this room is turned on.” — riff on the movie’s sexualized imagery.
- “If I was ever tricked into taking a child to this, I am creating trauma for my children.” — host warning about showing this to kids.
- Audience fact-check: “They turned them into donkeys to kill them and sell them for skin.” — librarian confirming Collodi’s darker plot.
Practical recommendations / Action items
- Don’t watch with young children; the film is not family-friendly despite its source.
- If you want to explore the film:
- Watch for its oddities as a curiosity piece—best in a “so weird it’s interesting” marathon rather than as family entertainment.
- Consider reading Collodi’s original Pinocchio to understand the darker source material.
- Listen to the film’s soundtrack (Brian May’s puppet-opera is noteworthy).
- For fans of the episode: check the show’s follow-up mini-episode (they continue the discussion), and the hosts’ suggested ways to keep engaging (call-in number and social channels mentioned on the show).
Trivia & production facts highlighted in the episode
- Year: 1996. Budget: ~$25M. Opening weekend: ~$3M.
- Puppet took nine months to create and required 12 puppeteers/technicians.
- Brian May contributed a long puppet-opera score; soundtrack also includes a Stevie Wonder song.
- A CD-ROM interactive tie-in game (“You Are the New Pinocchio”) was released; the hosts described it as creepy/terrifying.
- A sequel, The New Adventures of Pinocchio (1998), exists; Martin Landau reprises his role.
- Amazon user reviews from the era showed an odd number of five-star reviews, some recommending it for kids despite its dark content.
Hosts’ verdicts (concise)
- General consensus: Not recommended, especially not for children. Some hosts accepted it as a “bizarre” watch for film-curiosity; others found it actively disturbing and personally scarring.
- If forced to choose between this and another poorly aged kids’ film (Drop Dead Fred), opinions varied—some preferred Drop Dead Fred, some preferred Pinocchio for its sheer strangeness.
Where this episode points you next
- Listen to the How Did This Get Made? mini-episode continuation (they invite audience calls).
- If curious about the original story, read Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio to see where the film’s darker elements come from.
- Check the soundtrack and the CD-ROM for period curiosities.
- For context on award-season and film analysis they promoted: Blank Check’s “Critical Darlings” (Vulture collaboration).
This summary captures the episode’s main angles: live audience energy, sustained mocking/dissection of a weird 1996 Pinocchio adaptation, book-vs-film comparisons, production trivia, and a clear recommendation to avoid showing the film to kids.