Is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio safe for kids? Is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio OK for children? Read the Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Netflix original stop motion film inspired by the classic Carlo Collodi fairy tale, directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson. No spoilers! #PinocchioNetflix May contain commissioned links.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide
In case you didn’t get the memo, 2022 is apparently the year of Pinocchio remakes. Not sure who put out that memo, but whoever said audiences were in desperate need of a Carlo Collodi fairy tale retelling must have a ginormous nose by now.
‘Cause they be a-lying!
Disney’s live action Pinocchio was the first to go direct to streaming this September 2022. But with Netflix’s stop motion releasing just in time for the holiday season, it’s honestly impossible not to compare the two (no lies told here). So how does Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio compare to the Disney classic?
In this Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full PG age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new Netflix Pinocchio parents guide to the new Netflix stop motion animated film. A no-spoiler parent review of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, are families falling in love with del Toro’s wooden puppet? Or is this fairy tale skip worthy?
The Visuals
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a good stop motion film. Reminiscent of the Tim Burton-esque stop motion of old (Nightmare Before Christmas meets James and the Giant Peach, anyone?) with enhanced camera work, new technology, sharper details and creepy yet mesmerizing reimagined characters, this ultra creative and whimsical stop motion film gives fresh perspective to Pinocchio’s classic point of view. An animation success from every angle, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio is an extraordinary feast for the eyes.
Photosensitivity warning: No bright, flashing lights or CGI that simulate strobing effects, but there are multiple scenes in darkness.
The Story
Academy Award®-winning director Guillermo del Toro (“The Shape of Water“) and award winning, stop-motion legend Mark Gustafson (“Return to Oz“) team up to reimagine the classic Carlo Collodi tale of a wooden boy, Pinocchio, on an enchanted adventure that transcends worlds and reveals the life-giving power of love. The all-star voice cast includes David Bradley (“Harry Potter“) as Gepetto, Gregory Mann (“2019 Cats“) as Pinocchio, and Ewan McGregor (“Obi-Wan Kenobi“) as Cricket on this one of a kind stop motion musical animated film.
A loose interpretation of the 1883 children’s book, Guillermo del Toro reinvents Pinocchio with not only a new look, but also a whole new setting, new songs, and new adventures. Set during the height of Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Party and World War II, this Pinocchio tale takes an even darker turn as familiar Pinocchio events coincide with the hardships of war in the early to mid 1900’s.
What Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio lacks in musicality (sorry not sorry, but I found the songs to be annoying versus catchy) and annoying character build (I found Pinocchio really cringe-y in the beginning scenes), more than makes up for in originality, creativity, and heart.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio PG Rating Explained
Is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio movie safe for kids? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings, especially PG. And as we all know, not all PG ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how movie ratings have shifted over the years with G-rated movies a thing of the past.
With film ratings unpredictable these days, even PG ratings oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, there’s a wide age range between 0-12 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie is family friendly – and safe for the everyone to watch together on streaming services like Netflix.
Why is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio rated PG? In this Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Review| Safe for Kids, this 2022 Netflix original film has a PG age rating for “peril, dark thematic material, brief smoking, some rude humor and violence.” Is Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio ok for kids? Should parents be worried about taking their kids to see another questionable PG rated Netflix original movie? Let’s breakdown that MPAA rating for parents in this Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Parents Guide.
Violence/Suspense. Mild peril includes drowning, death, near death and inferred death experiences. War is a common theme throughout Pinocchio. Visual representation of war including using weapons (guns), vehicles, bombs, animal cruelty and animal violence, arson, mild mayhem, and explosions.
Adult Themes. Death, grief and loss are recurring themes throughout Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. Includes scenes representing the stages of grief, graves, caskets, and other triggering visuals. Brief smoking is present, with a scene of someone stomping out a lit cigarette. Alcohol consumption, including drunkenness, excessive drinking and erratic behavior is present in this film as well and may also be triggering. Card games and gambling also depicted.
Mild toilet-like humor is used in this Pinocchio, with visuals and verbal references to chamber pots, poop, farting, and eating boogers.
With war being a prominent feature throughout Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, there are also multiple visuals of the Fascist salute (identical to the Nazi salute), and multiple religious visual and verbal references to Jesus on the crucifix (half naked, crown of thorns, nails through body, painted blood) and public religious shaming which may make some uneasy. Despite all of this, parents may be thankful to see some of the old Pinocchio adult themes have magically disappeared.
Language. Overall language is very mild in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. However, there are a few verbal references to note. Thankfully no swear words to report. Potentially offensive words, phrases and insults include 1 “freaking,” 1 “idiots,” multiple demon references, 1 “Oh my g-d,” 1 “gosh,” 10 “poop,” 3 “fart” references, 2 “caca” phrases, and multiple uses of the word “mangey.” Again, very mild overall. I know I’m nitpicking here. I honestly found the Fascist salute visuals more offensive than any of the bad language uses.
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Age Rating for Kids
At a runtime of 1 hour 56 minutes, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio animated movie runs a little long, even for a stop motion film. While the unique animation style and visuals can only hold the attention of kids for so long, the classic story, the new songs, all combined with the power of the pause button (thank you, Netflix!) will be a welcome reprieve from an overall lengthy family movie.
Still following the Carlo Collodi formula, there are some dated and slow moments in the film along with heavy period piece dialogue, despite all of the Pinocchio adventures. Parents of wiggle worms, take note.
Guillermo del Toro’s 2022 Pinocchio movie remake is a whimsical, refreshing take on the classic tale with heavy dialogue, a period setting, and clever stop motion visuals. Closely comparable to Disney ‘s 2022 live action Pinocchio remake (obviously) with Tim Burton-esque undertones, this Pinocchio reinvented will have less scary trauma nightmares in some usual scenes, but that doesn’t mean Netflix’s Pinocchio is nightmare free. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio MAY still produce all-new scary traumas for kids too.
No end credit scene for this 2022 Netflix film.
In this Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Review| Safe for Kids, this 2022 Netflix original film has a PG age rating for “peril, dark thematic material, brief smoking, some rude humor and violence.”
Based on my Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio parents guide and mom review above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Netflix’s Pinocchio for kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old.
Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio to kids younger than the age of 7-8 years old. I still recommend parents to prescreen the new Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio film on Netflix for multiple questionable adult themes, war depicted violence, and crude humor.
The Overall
Netflix Pinocchio > Disney Pinocchio. Eek, did I just admit that? If you’re looking for the cute and cuddly wooden puppet movie, this isn’t it. But you’re seeking an unpredictable twist on the predictable story, Guillermo del Toro may spark your soul.
Whimsically bizarre, yet fresh perspective on the classic fairy tale this wooden puppet story is filled with heart. And as much as I don’t care for the 1942 Pinocchio or the 2022 Disney retelling, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio was a refreshing departure from the predictable Disney-esque film. Whittle out familiar storybook tropes and important life lessons about love, acceptance and family, this little pine wood boy weirdly grew on me. Somehow finding a way to mesh the classic fairy tale story with whimsical (yet annoying) songs, stunning stop motion animation, and Guillermo del Toro’s signature yet bizarre love of extraordinary creatures and dark fantasy, I found myself mesmerized by an overwhelming full sensory experience.
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Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio movie is playing in select theaters starting on Tuesday November 8, 2022 and streaming exclusively on Netflix starting Friday December 9, 2022. Will your family be watching?
I was invited to screen Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio film in exchange for this Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Movie Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Netflix. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment and behind-the-scenes info!
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