3.5/5
When the first trailer for Detective Pikachu was released, I like many were very sceptical of Ryan Reynolds portraying the ‘electric mouse’ that had dominated so much of my childhood. However as more trailers and footage were released (and I had gotten over the initial shock of hearing anything but ‘pika pika’ out of the little yellow fuzzball) I did start to come around to the idea and I’m so glad that it works.
Ryan Reynolds and co-star Justice Smith embark on almost a buddy cop film set in the Pokémon universe, based on a game I think its safe to say very few of us remember. Justice Smith plays Tim, a young man who has given up the dream of being a Pokémon trainer and works in insurance. When his father, a detective, is missing presumed dead, Tim returns to Ryme city house to find his Dad’s former partner, Pikachu. However, this isn’t your average Pikachu. Adorned with a deer stalker cap, a taste for coffee, complete memory loss and a scathing wit, Pikachu and Tim partner up to investigate exactly what happened to Tim’s father.
Like all good family films there is plenty for all ages. Kids in my screening were in awe of the reality with Pokémon, new and old, so brilliantly woven into it. Adults who grew up with the games will be able to spot plenty of call backs to the cartoons and the writers include jokes that will fly straight over kids heads but leave adults laughing. Both Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith are very good, especially Reynolds who, whilst he is playing a PG version of Deadpool, brings so much of his charisma and swagger to the screen. The film also creates the Pokémon world in such a brilliant fashion. The Pokémon don’t feel CGI’d in and the Blade Runner inspired cityscape of Ryme city is a perfect setting for this world to exist. The Pokémon themselves are also very well augmented and the cuteness of Pikachu and others is immense.
The plot compared to other computer game adaptations just about holds together and although its predictable and hardly ground breaking there is enough there to keep the narrative flowing, even if it does seem a bit disjointed at times. Similarly, whilst some of the jokes are well written there is a fair amount of plot explaining and some questionable acting, including a very out of place Rita Ora cameo. But that’s not why you go to see this film. You go for an enjoyable romp around a world that you wish you lived in and Detective Pikachu is funny enough and engaging enough to forgive the aforementioned movie sins.
This film aims for the heights that the Lego movie achieved in 2014 and it uses many of the same techniques. Its witty, self-referential, doesn’t take itself too seriously and whilst not hitting quite as higher note as The Lego Movie, Detective Pikachu is entirely enjoyable.
If like me you grew up watching the cartoons, playing the games and collecting the cards then there is no doubt you will enjoy watching the world come to life (Especially if you live in London, which is where the movie is filmed). However, there is enough for those who aren’t Pokémon fans to enjoy and I would recommend losing yourself in this delightfully silly film.
Written by Will
Hughes Reviews 