Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A live-action / computer animated update of the Disney film in which a woodcarver named Geppetto (Tom Hanks) wishes that the puppet he has created could be a real boy.

Cartoon Cats: As in the original film, Figaro the black and white kitten and Cleo the goldfish are the pets of the otherwise lonely Geppetto.

Figaro interacts with Geppetto much as he did in the original (although not as often).

Some of the scenes from the original have been adapted into this version, such as when Figaro is first frightened of Pinocchio as Geppetto is working him as a puppet. Here Figaro has an adorable moment when, being backed into a corner, he raises his paw to fight back at the approaching marionette.

Figaro’s carved bed is also included, although Geppetto does not ask the kitten to open the window for him.

Clever animation gives Figaro wonderful expressions, such as when he and Geppetto first see Pinocchio has come to life.

The fire finger scene is also included in this version, although abbreviated.

Some of the best moments for Figaro are subtle background actions, such as when Pinocchio is being sent off to school the kitten climbs into the garbage pail.

Figaro also fetches Pinocchio’s school book.

When Pinocchio doesn’t return from school, Geppetto sets out with Figaro and Cleo into the rainy night to try to find him.

Eventually they end up on a boat to try to reach Pleasure Island where they believe Pinocchio to be.

When they are all trapped inside Monstro the whale, Pinocchio comes up with the plan to start a fire to smoke themselves out. The ride out is treacherous and Figaro reacts accordingly.

By far the best moment in the film is when Figaro first lays eyes on Jiminy Cricket. Again this is a background action, but Figaro stalks the cricket in the boat in perfect cat fashion. It is a laugh out loud moment for any cat lover!

So many realistic cat actions are worked into the film, such as Figaro curling up on Geppetto’s chest when they finally escape from Monstro’s belly.

The affection between Figaro and the other members of his small family is really portrayed wonderfully in this version.

The more human-like but mute Gideon, the sidekick of the villainous fox Honest John (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), is also updated for this remake.

As in the original, the bulk of Gideon’s role is to be knocked around and mistreated by Honest John at every turn, although he does end up hitting the fox on the head with a mallet so he inadvertently gets some retaliation.

Their scenes play out pretty much the same as in the original until Pinocchio is kicked out of school. The wiley pair drop a jar on Jiminy Cricket to keep him from interfering.

Without Pinocchio’s conscience, it’s easy for them to manipulate him into joining Stromboli’s puppet show. Unlike in the original film the pair do not return and have no part in Pinocchio’s trip to Pleasure Island.

Whether or not you appreciate or even like this new version is understandably subjective, but what should be universally appreciated is just how adorably Figaro is animated in this film. True, his part is somewhat reduced and his personality isn’t as broad as in the original (here Figaro’s sassiness is reduced to a couple of eye rolls and disinterested looks), but the way the animators worked in so many true cat movements and characteristics gives us some hope that the reported reworking of The Aristocats into this type of CGI film might not be too bad after all. One can hope!

Final Mewsings: Remakes may be controversial but we’ll take cute cats wherever we can find them!

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