Pokémon: Detective Pikachu Review: Gotta Catch 'em All
- naterichard98
- Jun 12, 2019
- 2 min read
DIRECTED BY: ROB LETTERMAN STARRING: RYAN REYNOLDS, JUSTICE SMITH, & KATHRYN NEWTON
RATED PG FOR ACTION/PERIL, SOME RUDE AND SUGGESTIVE HUMOR, AND THEMATIC ELEMENTS
LENGTH: 104 MINUTES
Ever since Pokémon Go revitalized the worldwide phenomenon back into the public lexicon, Hollywood was quick to finally make the first-ever live-action adaptation of the famed Pocket Monsters. So when Legendary Pictures announced that they would be making a film based off an obscure Nintendo 3DS game titled Detective Pikachu, the world was a bit confused. Why not just stick to Ash Ketchum from the television series or Red from the original Gameboy game?
During the first 15 minutes of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, you'll start to better understand why Detective Pikachu was chosen as the first Pokémon movie. The world-building and how the film establishes the bond between a human and their Pokémon is absolutely incredible. It's easily the best thing about the film, Rob Letterman uses the fictional Ryme City as the ultimate playground for action, special effects, and comedy. The cinematography, lighting, and production of the film gives off a very noir-vibe and you almost forget you're watching a family movie from the director of Gulliver's Travels.
Ryan Reynolds's performance as Detective Pikachu could've easily felt like a PG-rated Deadpool; not to mention the fact that it's odd to have somebody with a deeper voice like Reynolds voice a character that in most forms of media just lets out a high-pitch 'Pika-Pika!'. Though as soon as Detective Pikachu makes his first appearance, you buy into it. Reynold's signature sense of humor is still present and plastered throughout the movie and it never felt out of place. He also shares great chemistry with his human co-star, Justice Smith, who shows much more promise here than he did in last summer's Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. As for the rest of the performance, they're a hit and miss, though Ken Watanabe straight-faced performance is quite amusing.
Where Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, starts to stumble is with its central mystery plot-line. While this is a film that's aimed at kids, the film's twists and turns (aside from one) seemed a little too predictable. As funny and aesthetically pleasing as the film is, the story tying it all together just felt like wasted potential.
That aside there is still plenty to enjoy with Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, it's certainly one that both older Pokémon fans and kids will eat right up. Its charming central performances, fantastic world-building, and glowing CGI make it certainly worth checking out on the big screen.
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