Geppetto

Many viewers of Whose Line is it Anyway would have heard of the film Geppetto, staring Drew Carey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Brent Spiner, as it's one of the things Drew Carey often gets mocked for on the show. After hearing many quips and light insults directed at the film, I got curious enough to watch it.

Geppetto is a Disney musical version of Pinocchio told from his 'father's' perspective. When his toy shop opens for business one busy day, Geppetto (played by Drew Carey) watches various parents interact with their children, wishing that he could know the joys of fatherhood. That night, the Blue Fairy (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) grants his wish, turning his finest creation, a puppet, into a wooden boy.

Geppetto's delight at having a son soon turns to despair as he realizes Pinocchio (Seth Adkins) isn't what he was expecting, and after an argument, Pinocchio runs away to a traveling puppet master, Stromboli (Brent Spiner). After getting advice from the Blue Fairy, Geppetto tries to find Pinocchio, but gets to Stromboli's tent too late to stop the boy from running away again, this time to the infamous Pleasure Island.

On his travels to find his Pinocchio, Geppetto meets the Blue Fairy again, along with a struggling magician and a town filled with creepily perfect children, all the while racing to Pleasure Island to find Pinocchio before he falls into Stromboli's clutches.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Some parts were a little cheesy, and some of the special effects had much to be desired, but the soundtrack, composed by Stephen Schwartz, more than made up for this. Brent Spiner does a great job of the mad villain, Wayne Brady makes an appearance as the magician and all the songs wonderfully sung. Despite the cheesiness, I found the film very enjoyable, and would recommend it to anyone wanting a good version about Pinocchio, or to anyone who just wants a film with a heart-warming tale.