Welcome everyone to another round of catch up with movies I missed out in theaters last year. We continue this little series of posts with a movie that I was oddly curious about ever since the first trailer for it came out and it made me more excited for it than I was initially. Now when it comes to Pokemon, in general I am a casual fan at best as I haven’t played much of the video games, or collected any cards but I did watch a bit of the series when I was younger as well as a couple of the animated movies and I liked playing as them sometimes in Super Smash Bros. But even with that the marketing seemed to sell how this would be a movie that people who aren’t too familiar with Pokemon would enjoy as well as the hardcore fans with its crowd pleasing humor, and the casting of fan favorite, Ryan Reynolds as the titular detective (heck it was so good, and well liked that it tricked me into thinking the movie would be a huge box office juggernaut). And after finally seeing it, I am glad to say that it succeeds in those areas. With that said let’s go and solve the mystery of what works about this Pokemon movie and how it could be the start of a promising franchise.
Things start off with our main character, Tim Goodman, and his buddy going trying to catch Pokemon and during this introduction where we learn that Tim is someone who gave up his dream of becoming a Pokemon trainer following the death of his mother and becoming distant from his father. Suddenly he is called to Ryme City, a place where humans, and Pokemon live together in harmony, by the police there to tell him his father died in a car accident. Thus Tim goes to his father’s apartment to go and sort things out but he ends up finding the strangest thing. There he encounters this talking Pickachu that says he knew Tim’s father and that he is still alive. As if that wasn’t crazy enough, it also turns out the Tim is the only one who can hear what this Pickachu is saying. While he is understandably doubtful over whether this Pokemon he just found in his father’s apartment is telling the truth, after a deadly encounter with some rabid Pokemon who were infected by some sort of gas he soon realizes that there’s something more going on they he first realized. And thus he decides to team up with this Pickachu as well as a junior reporter named Lucy Stevens in order to figure out both the mystery of his missing father and who/what is responsible for all of the Pokemon going savage. But with the clock ticking will they be able to find the clues, and piece this mystery together?
Perhaps the best thing that can be said regarding this movie is that while it indeed is made for fans, it still works well for those who only have a passing interest in the property. It focuses on being a movie first with an actual story to tell first, and fan service second and succeeds in explaining what Pokemon are and how they inhabit this world. While there are still plenty of Easter eggs galore throughout, it is first and foremost a mystery story and in that regard it works pretty well. It may not be groundbreaking writing and you will most likely guess who the mastermind of this is before the third act and something weird I noticed about the movie that I’m surprised not many people have realized are the many similarities to Zootopia. I mean there’s the setting, the buddy cop dynamic is similar, it involves inhabitants going savage, and even the twists are very similar in a way and there are some cliches that felt forced as if they are required in a story like this. But it still works well enough as it is neat seeing this type of story done but with Pokemon and there are a couple of plot turns that were legitimately surprising I will admit. It also helps that the movie does have a nice sense of humor most of which stems from Pickachu’s witty one liners, lots of fun references that fans will get (the uselessness of Magikarp, the way the classic theme song from the anime is used, etc.), and Tim, and Pickachu’s interactions with many of the Pokemon, with the Mr. Mime interrogation being a stand out (great example of the trailers not giving away the entire joke). Another aspect I greatly appreciated was the fact that this is an adaptation that takes place in its own unique world (thus being faithful to it’s source material) instead of sending its iconic characters to the present day real world like so many others like the Smurfs, Masters of the Universe, and even fellow video game adaptation, Sonic the Hedgehog. Again while the story itself may not be the greatest, and most phenomenally done in the world, the sort of detective noir approach to it is amusing, the humor is on point, and it works as both a love letter to the franchise, and a fun ride for general audiences who may not be too familiar with Pokemon.
One of the things that I was wondering when I first heard this movie was being made was how in the world are they going to make realistic looking Pokemon? I mean they would be nearly impossible to make look good in live action due to how cartoony they look. Luckily the VFX artists were able to prove me wrong as they have crafted some of the most impressive CGI creations I’ve seen in a while. Every single Pokemon here looks great, and stay true to their original designs with different textures to make them more realistic like fur, scales, and more, while also maintaining that cartoony look to give the faces more expression and make them look cute as well (Pikachu himself would make for a very nice plush). I also thought the world in which they inhabit was also well realized as the city of Ryme City again reminds me of Zootopia as it has different aspects about it that fits the Pokemon’s needs and the look of it gives off these dark, and neon undertones at times that make it seem like Blade Runner but with Pokemon which is one heck of a combination. Director, Rob Letterman, also does a good job when it comes to action as he does craft some exciting set pieces that show off the abilities of the different Pokemon like the fight between Pikachu, and Charizard, the chase with the Greninjas, and the climactic battle in the city. But with all of this special effects driven spectacle going on it is important to have someone to make the proceeding more grounded which in this case is Tim’s arc and it is well done. He works as a pretty compelling protagonist and I like how the movie did focus on his emotional pain, and struggles he feels after losing his mother and being separated from his father. It helps that Justice Smith gives in a solid performance (a vast improvement over his work in Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom) and sells the drama while also doing a good job interacting with a CGI creation. Speaking of which of course Ryan Reynolds is a lot of fun as the iconic character and is his usual wise cracking self and he has some genuinely funny, and sweet interactions with Tim and they make for a nice duo to follow (Spoiler: I wish that they did not split up before the third act as not only is it cliched but it just felt really forced here). I also found Kathryn Newton as Lucy Stevens to be a fun, and enthusiastic foil and her mannerisms, and fast talking feel straight out of an anime while her Psyduck also gets some of the biggest laughs in the movie. The rest of the cast gets the job done with Ken Watanabe as Ryme City police detective, and friend of Harry’s, Hideo Yoshida, and Bill Nighy as Howard Clifford, the creator of Ryme City (and thanks to a third act twist, he gets the chance to once again play a major CGI character) leaving a notable impression. Still the leads are likable enough that I would indeed welcome a return adventure with them.
Pokemon Detective Pikachu works as quality family entertainment, an fun detective story, Pokemon movie, and as just a very good video game movie. It may not always hits its marks due to the familiar plotting, and mystery beats, and certain tiresome cliches but there are still plenty of things that it gets right like the tone is unique, the visuals are outstanding, there is some very good comedy, and the main duo are a lot of fun. It succeeds where other adaptations have not as it works both for fans, and non fans alike, while honoring its source material at the same time. It and the Angry Bird Movie 2 are both easily the best in terms of what the sub genre has to offer and I do recommend both as they are a lot of fun and are absolutely a step in the right direction and give me hope for whats to come (haven’t seen Sonic yet, though I will make sure to get to it soon). I also hope that we will indeed get some sort of follow up as this franchise has a lot of potential to expand its world on the big screen.
Rating: B+
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Review Time 