Pokemon Detective Pikachu is one of those rare video game adaptations that work well. But like other video game adaptations, it also has plenty of flaws that prevent it from being great.
Like in the game, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) travels to Ryme City, where Pokemons live side by side with humans, in search of his father. There he soon teams up with a talking Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) and newsroom intern Lucy (Kathryn Newton). He soon finds that a mysterious gas called R is at the centre of a conspiracy that threatens to overwhelm Ryme City.
The story strikes a good balance between nostalgia and spectacle. The Pokemon are deftly realized, and each creature that appears has a personality of its own. Ryme City is also a thriving environment, with corners of its own such as an underground fight club and a secret research facility. The cityscape is reminiscent of cyberpunk environments, except that everything is brighter and filled with cute creatures.
Of course, the story is only so-so, with the detective elements never clicking together (although there’s a good scene where the pair interview a Myme). The film’s plot is also easily deduced, especially in regards to the antagonist’s identity. However, this movie is meant for the fans, and it mostly succeeds in those regards.
Reynolds impresses in the titular role, playing a confused Pikachu discovering both more about himself and his partner. There’s some heart to Reynolds’ performance, and his funny lines land for the most part. However, there’s a lack of edge to his oeuvre, when one compares his Pikachu to his Deadpool. He’s the main attraction of the movie, and although Tim and Lucy are decent complements in this world of Pokemon, they are more vehicles to explore this world rather than proper anchors in perspective.
The film hits all the right points for a Pokemon movie, even bringing in legendary Pokemon New Too for a significant role. However, at times it also feels too safe, which is perhaps expected for a film where kids are a big part of the audience.
This film is almost a throwback to the 2000s, when passable CGI films were all the rage.
It feels right at home with other recent fare like Jumanji: it’s a two hour romp in a fun, comfortable world, and there’s room for plenty more in case the creators want to revisit this property.
However, it’s still a bit disappointing that the film never rises to the occasion. Aside from one sequence involving moving islands that turn out to be Pokemon, it doesn’t really wow its audience. However, I’d you are looking for a mostly fun experience that also allows you to revisit parts of your childhood, then Pokemon Detective Pikachu might just be the movie for you.
