A Detective Pikachu (2019) Review
Before anything I would like to say that there will be a video version of this review coming out by this Sunday, Mya 12th, if you prefer to watch/listen instead of read.
Detective Pikachu, directed by Rob Letterman, may just be the best movie you won’t see. Coming out just 2 weeks after End Game is risky for any movie, no matter the company behind it. However, I highly recommend this movie to any fan of Gen 1 of Pokémon.
The movie starts just like the original Pokémon movie, with Mewtwo (Rina Hoshino & Kotaro Watanabe) in a lab, a nice bit of nostalgia. However, it is acknowledged that this isn’t the birth of Mewtwo, he was actually captured in Kanto region and brought in to do tests on. Mewtwo breaks out and seemingly attacks our lead characters father, starting out story.
When Tim Goodman(Justice Smith) hears of his fathers death he travels to Ryme City to say goodbye. But when he runs into our Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) they must now find out what really happened to his father and why Pikachu has amnesia. They run into aspiring news reporter Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton) and with her help they uncover a deep, dark, secret. The movie is full of several twists, twisty twists, and I want you to go see it so I won’t be spoiling them here.
I quiet enjoyed the story and characters, seeing the broken relationship between father and son quickly tugged on my heartstrings and made me instantly care about the situation. I even cared for Pikachu who, like many of us, just wants to know his purpose. All actors did a very believable job acting around a bunch of CGI.
Speaking of CGI, I must say, it’s some of the best I have ever seen. Every scene has the Pokémon in it and almost every frame stars them, and besides a few weird looking ones, the CGI makes you believe they were actually on set. Every Pokémon looked the way you would think they’d look. From Charmanders being have scales, Jigglypuffs being all fuzzy, and Mr. Mimes uncomfortable smoothness, they all look phenomenal. Even the few poke balls in the movie looked genuine, and something I don’t need in my life but really, really want.
And the movie felt genuine with its comedy. Nothing forced. From Pikachu having to rub Psyduck’s feet to a few drug jokes. My favorite part was at an undercover fight when all the Pokémon went crazy for “R” and Pikachu kicking a Magikarp to make it evolve into a Gyarados.
Detective Pikachu paid homage the original pokemon several ways including the apartment being called “Oak”, spelt out in kanji so you have to actually look to see the name. As well as, Ryan Reynold’s Pikachu singing the original song while he dances some walking down the road, I laughed because of the bizarreness but also whispered the words to myself between chuckles. The main credits even roll to a remixed version of the opening.
I would give Detective Pikachu an 8/10, a must watch film for anyone of any age who enjoyed the first generation of Pokémon especially. Besides a handful of odd designs and corny jokes, it was a well done performance all around.
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