Growing up, I was a fan of the Pokemon franchise. I started out like most kids at that time, with Red and Blue on the Gameboy Color. I followed the game franchise, anime, manga, collected the cards and so much more. In all of that time though, I never expected we would get a live action movie. When the news came out that they were making a live action movie based off the Detective Pikachu game, with Ryan Reynolds voice Pikachu, I was a little nervous. I didn’t see any way this would be good. Between a live action Pokemon, and Hollywood’s track record with anime and video game adaptations, there was a lot here to worry about. When the first trailer came out though, everything changed. The Pokemon designs, while jarring at first, were amazing. The story didn’t look to be anything too ground breaking, but looked fun enough and Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu actually seemed pretty good. As more and more trailers and marketing happened for this film, my excitement grew. I couldn’t wait to see it. Honestly the fact that they managed to have a nice combination of the classic designs while also making them realistic was already enough to have my excitement high. Would it be able to live up to that hype though?
Pokemon: Detective Pikachu stars Justice Smith as Tim Goodman. Tim is an insurance agent who has grown to dislike Pokemon. This is due to his father, Harry Goodman, a detective who ended up moving away. Tim sees it as Harry would spend more time with Pokemon than with his own kid so he grew that resentment towards both. One day, Harry receives a phone call from Lieutenant Hide Yoshida from Rhyme City. He informs Tim that his father has seemingly died in an accident. Tim heads to Rhyme City to meet with the Lieutenant, not seeming very broken up about his own father’s death. While there he gets the keys to Harry’s apartment to go search through his belongings.
As he arrives, he runs into Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), a columnist for a local news network who is trying to get information on Harry and whatever he was investigating. Tim dodges the questions and gets up to his dad’s apartment, finding some files and a tube of gas labeled “R". Tim opens this, spraying the gas all over the apartment and outside the window. Finding it odd, but thinking not much of it, he continues looking around when he runs into Harry’s partner, Pikachu, voiced by Ryan Reynolds. The two discover that somehow they can understand each other, but before they can talk too much, a horde of Aipom that were outside start pouring in and attacking. The two get away and reluctantly start talking, with no one else being able to understand Pikachu. Pikachu thinks that Harry is still alive and either he or someone else faked his death. After some reluctance, Tim and Pikachu get the help of Lucy with her Psyduck and set out to uncover the mystery behind Harry’s disappearance and the mysterious “R”.
The movie does not have a very profound story. Minus maybe one twist, if you can even call it that, it was pretty easy to tell where things were going. Even with that though, I absolutely loved this movie. It was so fun. Seeing so many Pokemon that I have loved but now in live action was wonderful. I stayed smiling throughout the whole movie. At the end of the day, this movie is a kid’s movie. The plot isn’t going to be anything much, but that certainly didn’t take away from anything. There is more than enough for people of all ages in this.
At times the acting could be a little off, but for the most part that was also pretty good. Justice Smith did a great job I feel and naturally Ryan Reynolds killed it. Kathryn Newton at first was one I wasn’t sure about, but her acting really fit the role well. Lucy is honestly a character I would have liked to see just a little more of.
I also appreciated how much thought was put into the Pokemon. I was reading an interview where they created digital skeletons of them so the movements were right and they put a lot of thought into how to do the designs to make sure the Pokemon weren't creepy. It even followed enough lore for them still with Mewtwo still having his back story it seems, Cubone crying consistently and things such as that. Small touches, but much appreciated ones
While I probably won't do a spoiler review on this, I will do something else, because I have many questions and thoughts on things that could be spoilers. It is also worth noting that while there is not an end credits scene, it is worth sitting through the first credits section. It was a nice little touch they did that really had me smiling. If you are a fan of the franchise, it is worth seeing. I think Hollywood is finally on the right track with getting the anime/ video game movies right. They are realizing how to bring it to the big screen but not radically changing things. Hopefully Sonic doesn't ruin that. All in all this movie is great for those new to the world of Pokemon and those who have followed it from the beginning. I can't wait to see what else the live action world of Pokemon has in store for us all.
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