Movie Type: Fairy Tales & Legends, Children's Fantasy
Themes: Toys Come to Life
Main Cast: Drew Carey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brent Spiner, René Auberjonois, Seth Adkins
Release Year: 2000
Country: US
Run Time: 120 minutes
Plot
Wise-cracking, beer-drinking comedy star Drew Carey makes a change of pace as he tops the bill of this made-for-TV adaptation of Carlo Collodi's classic children's fantasy. Geppetto (Drew Carey) is a bachelor woodcarver who loves children, but has none of his own. As he works on a wooden puppet he calls Pinocchio, Geppetto sadly wishes he could have a son; the Blue Fairy (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) decides to grant his wish, and Pinocchio comes to life. Geppetto is thrilled, but he soon discovers that taking care of the little wooden boy is more trouble than he ever imagined. As Geppetto struggles with the responsibilities of parenthood, Pinocchio is kidnapped by Stromboli (Brent Spiner), a traveling puppet master who wants to use the enchanted marionette in his traveling show. Though Geppetto has become disillusioned with his abilities as a father, he can't let Pinocchio be stolen away by an ill-meaning stranger, and sets out to find the wooden boy. En route, Geppetto meets a number of strange and remarkable characters, including the inept magician Lazardo (Wayne Brady), the mysterious Professor Buonragazzo (Rene Auberjonois), and the Ring Leader (Usher Raymond), who spirits wayward boys away to Pleasure Island. Geppetto features several original songs by Steven Schwartz; the film was produced for the ABC television network, where it first aired on May 7, 2000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Jason LaPadura - Casting, Laura Adler - Casting, Natalie Hart - Casting, Jerry Mitchell - Choreography, Robert Billig - Conductor, Hope Hanafin - Costume Designer, Tom Moore - Director, Virginia Katz - Editor, James Pentecost - Executive Producer, Mike Karz - Executive Producer, Drew Carey - Executive Producer, Peter Green - Executive Producer, Stephen Schwartz - Composer (Music Score), Charles J.H. Wood - Production Designer, Stephen M. Katz - Cinematographer, Ted Zachary - Producer, Ronald E. Frazier - Supervisor/Manager, David I. Stern - Screen Story, David I. Stern - Screenwriter, Terry Wilson - Music Editor, Keith Rogers - Re-Recording Mixer, Ronald E. Frazier - Supervising Producer, Peter Green - Supervising Producer, Carlo Collodi - Book Author, Stephen Schwartz - Lyricist
Geppetto dearly wishes to become a father. One day his wish is granted by the Blue Fairy, and she brings to life a wooden puppet, made by Geppetto, named Pinocchio. In the beginning everything is rosy for the new family, yet slowly things begin to unravel, culminating with Pinocchio running away. Geppetto, thinking Pinocchio would rather live with the evil Stromboli, washes his hands of the whole matter and tries to go back to his lonely life. Stromboli, however, had kidnapped Pinocchio and was using him as the main attraction in his puppet show.
Geppetto finally comes to his senses and goes out to rescue Pinocchio, but Pinocchio has run away from Stromboli to the infamous "Pleasure Island" (Usher Raymond has a cameo as the Ring Leader of Pleasure Island). On his way there, Geppetto has several chance encounters, including a professor that creates children to precise specifications played by René Auberjonois, and a struggling, traveling magician played by Wayne Brady.
Pleasure Island is not all that it seems and Pinocchio is turned into a donkey, with Geppetto arriving just in time to see Pinocchio and to try and rescue him. They set sail on a small boat, get hit by a storm in the middle of the sea and are swallowed by a whale.
They manage to escape and forgive each other for their wrongs, and Pinocchio is turned into a 'Real Boy' by the end of the movie and all live happily ever after.
"When You Wish Upon a Star" in the introductory narration.
The boy with the violin playing "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the perfect town.
Pinocchio sings "I've Got No Strings" in Stromboli's act.
Professor Buonragazzo promises Geppetto a new son "Faster than you can say 'Jiminy Cricket.'"
The cat is named Figaro.
The whale is named Monstro.
The name of the amusement park where Pinocchio runs away to and is turned into a donkey is Pleasure Island.
Seth Adkins made a 30 second guest appearance on The Drew Carey Show. Seth had stayed in his character as Pinocchio and called Drew Geppetto. Drew called on security to take him away. As he was pulled away, Seth said "I see dead people".
The video game Kingdom Hearts, which was released 3 years later after this movie has Adkins voicing the Disney version of Pinocchio.
Gepetto is mentioned somewhat frequently (often mocking it) on the improvisational TV show Whose Line is it Anyway?, which Drew Carey hosted.
Soundtrack
The Soundtrack for Geppetto is available from Walt Disney Records, and it features songs from the movie composed by Stephen Schwartz, as well as the single, "Since I Gave My Heart Away" performed by Sonya Issacs (as heard in the end credits of the movie).
Track Listing:
1. Once Upon A Time - Drew Carey
2. Toys - Drew Carey
3. Empty Heart - Drew Carey
4. And Son - Drew Carey/Seth Adkins
5. Just Because It's Magic - Julia Louis-Dreyfus/Drew Carey
6. I've Got No Strings - Seth Adkins
7. Bravo, Stromboli! - Brent Spiner
8. Toys (Reprise) - Drew Carey/Wayne Brady
9. Satisfaction Guaranteed - Rene Auberjonois
10. Just Because It's Magic (Reprise) - Julia Louis-Dreyfus
11. Pleasure Island - Usher
12. And Son (Reprise) - Seth Adkins/Drew Carey
13. Since I Gave My Heart Away - Drew Carey/Julia Lewis-Dreyfus
14. Since I Gave My Heart Away (Single Version) - Sonya Issacs
