Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

The Pokemon franchise created a phenomena upon its debut in 1996 as video games for the GameBoy Color and was later adapted into a popular long-running anime series, which secured its juggernaut status in the industry. Starting in 1998 (or 1999 for US), they managed to launch numerous animated films based on that anime to their audiences (with the first 2 theatrically released while the rest were direct to video) with 22 of these by this point. It was inevitable that with the enormous success it has accumulated over the past two decades that a live action adaptation would make its way to the big screen. This brings us to Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, which made caught attention in showing that Ryan Reynolds would be voicing the title character and is based on that spin-off within the series. It certainly brought some hope for audiences that this would break the belief that good film adaptations of video games aren't possible. I entered the auditorium ready to see it could live up to the potential and left liking it but a little disappointed that I didn't love as much as I would have wanted to.

My experience with Pokemon: I grew up with the franchise since it's debut in the late 1990s. I played the Red/Blue/Yellow Gameboy Color games, have watched 2 of the animated movies, and have seen most of the anime. I'm familiar with a large chunk of the creatures and would be more considered a casual fan than a hardcore type.

What's it about? The story follows a young man teaming up with his missing father's Pokemon partner to discover find out what caused his disappearance. On paper this kind of a premise can be made interesting if the writing was capable. There's plenty of detective work to be found with this film that's pretty simple and easy to follow.

However, the big weakness holding this back from being all that memorable is how standard and uninteresting the execution of this tale. The predictability of the culprit involved doesn't land that well since the structure and placement of plot pieces felt like it didn't have the best care put into it. The twist revealed in the third act is a bit weird to get used to, which is saying something when it takes place in a city where humans and these creatures live the way they do together. It's not necessarily terrible as a story but it doesn't carry an excitement factor or any emotional investment for the lead human. With the prioritizing of specific parts of the film that audiences have been looking forward to, it's easy to see that the plot was a casualty that wasn't given that much care.

How are the Pokemon? The best aspect here is the world building that is fascinating to see unfold. The way the creatures that are shown interacting with the environment is gorgeous from the camera shots of them inside certain facilities and blending with the nature of the outdoors. Because there are over 700 Pokemon (at this point with Generation 6), the budget allotted to this adaptation can only show a handful of them on screen ranging from the old classics to the variety of popular newer types. There are battles with them but don't expect much action considering that this is a detective premise we're dealing with. For those of you nerdy enough to care, there are plenty of fun video game/anime Easter Eggs spread throughout (including one that briefly mentions a connection to the Kanto region). You don't need to be a fan of the series to follow along as there's enough of a introductory course for newcomers to know how the environment operates.

How's Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu? As for the main star, Ryan Reynolds is the shining star whose vocal performance carries the entertainment value well. Let's get this out of the way: No, this not furry Deadpool as it's easier to distinguish one from the other. He strikes a balance of comedy and drama weight while being softer in his delivery (it's funny to hear a Pikachu who's in a middle of the dangerous Pokemon fight yell, "Get me the h*** out of here!"). He does a great job in portraying the adorable factor of this franchise mascot that's easily recognizable from this brand.

How's everyone else? In regards to the human characters, an issue that's hard to ignore is how underwritten they feel for the plot they serve. The best standout among them in regards to acting is Tim (Justice Smith) who is allowed moments where he can get a little dramatic. The downside for him would be the very hit or miss attempts at humor from the script. Unfortunately both his character and Lucy (Kathryn Newton) shares the same problem: not being capable enough to elevate the limited screenplay as they feel forgettable by the end of the adventure, which can be said for the rest of the notable characters.

Overall Consensus: Pokemon Detective Pikachu is a fun visual treat with great world building, good cinematography, and a great performance from Ryan Reynolds but suffers from the standard plot and weak characterization. ⭑⭑⭑1/2🎟 Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes PG-13

Reasons to watch it: You are a fan of the aforementioned actors. You are familiar with this franchise (either as a newcomer, a casual viewer, or a hardcore fan). You want to see a light-hearted charming video game movie adaptation done well from a visual standpoint. You don't mind standard detective mystery plots.

Reasons to avoid it: You aren't a fan of the aforementioned actors. You dislike video game movie adaptations in general. You are bored with standard detective mystery plots.