Pinocchio: A True Story

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Pinocchio: A True Story — Short Version

Pinocchio: A True Story is a 2021 Russian animated fantasy film directed by Vasiliy Rovenskiy, based on Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. Geppetto creates a wooden puppet named Pinocchio, who is blessed by the fairy Lucilda to be able to talk and move. Pinocchio wants to see the world but must hide because he’s the only talking puppet.

Plot
- Pinocchio and his talking horse Tybalt rescue Bella, a circus acrobat, from a dangerous situation.
- Pinocchio becomes a star at Mangiafuoco’s circus and falls in love with Bella.
- A clown tells Pinocchio that Lucilda can make him real, but she says he becomes real by acting human.
- Pinocchio and Tybalt search for Lucilda, while a detective gathers clues about a string of crimes.
- Back at the circus, Mangiafuoco’s gang is stealing from audience members; Pinocchio is accused of masterminding the crimes.
- With Bella, Geppetto, and Tybalt, Pinocchio helps reveal Mangiafuoco’s crimes during one final performance.
- Mangiafuoco sets fire to the tent; Pinocchio saves Bella but appears dead.
- Bella’s tear revives him, and Lucilda explains that Pinocchio is human because he acted selflessly.
- The detective arrests Mangiafuoco, and Bella is revealed to be the detective’s long-lost daughter.
- The survivors start a new traveling circus, with the detective as ringleader.

Production and release
- The film was released in Russia on February 17, 2022, after being produced by Vasiliy Rovenskiy and others.
- An English-language dub featuring Pauly Shore as Pinocchio was released by Lionsgate on March 22, 2022 (DVD and VOD). The trailer became a viral meme online.
- North American rights were acquired by Grindstone Entertainment in 2021. The runtime is about 94 minutes, and the film is in Russian with an English dub.

Reception
- Critics gave mixed to negative reviews. Some praised the simple story for kids and the humor, while others criticized the animation quality and the English dubbing.
- Pauly Shore’s performance sparked widespread memes on social media, with varied opinions on its quality and entertainment value.