Pokemon Detective Pikachu
Released May 10, 2019
Our story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry's former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who doesn't even understand himself. Finding that they are mysteriously equipped to communicate with each other, Tim and Pikachu must work together in this thrilling adventure to discover the truth and find Harry. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Rhyme City--a sprawling metropolis where both people and Pokémon live in harmony--they discover a diverse cast of characters both Pokémon and human alike. They uncover a shocking plot to destroy this peaceful coexistence and threaten the entire Pokémon universe.
CREDITS:
Directed: Rob Letterman
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy, Ken Watanabe and more.
Rated: PG
Runtime: 104 minutes
I’m sure a lot of people were asking themselves how a movie about a world full of computer-animated creatures from a children’s video game, cartoon, and trading card game would be entertaining enough to see on the big screen. I’m sure plenty more were asking why the proverbial 'they' made such a movie to begin with. Then, throw in a plot that involves an adorable little Pokemon – the only one in the film that can say anything more than its own name - as a detective trying to solve a missing person’s case…sounds like a Hollywood disaster, no? Actually, it was anything but.
It won't matter if you’re a Pokemon fanatic, a Ryan Reynolds fan, or just want to see a hilarious adventure film that’s acceptable for the whole family (minus the one time Pikachu says “hell”). Pokemon Detective Pikachu was fun all the way through. It’s got a little bit of everything for just about everyone: exceptional action sequences, fantastic special effects (including CGI critters that won’t have you cringing), plenty of humor that doesn’t feel forced, and enough acting ability to hold the film together.
Justice Smith excelled in his lead role as Tim Goodman, the nerdy kid who failed at his dreams of being a Pokemon trainer and gave up everything but mediocrity. But that’s not the extent of his character. Tim’s growth throughout the film was heartwarming – even tear-jerking at times – but not bad enough to make it worthy of the Hallmark Channel. His narrative provides a lot of depth as his backstory is revealed in pieces throughout the film, and while many of those pieces borrow from various tropes throughout the history of storytelling, none of them seem to detract from the film.
The female lead, Lucy Stevens, played by Kathryn Newton, was great as well. Though everyone may not feel the same way, I feel that she played the part perfectly, or at least how I would have envisioned her. Here’s why. It felt like Newton was, at times, overacting. To be honest, there were times Lucy felt downright forced and more artificial than the Pokemon on screen around her. Yet, I truly believe this was intentional rather than being an error in direction (directed by Rob Letterman) or lack of skill on Newton’s or part.
Throughout the many cartoon shows, movies and even the games the female roles (unless your chosen avatar is female) were a little dry, quite often bubbly, and very much surface level characters. I feel that Newton portrayed this quite well in her version of Lucy. However, that was only when she was in public, when she had someone to impress, or someone to hide from. When she was alone, alone with her Psyduck, or onscreen with Smith towards the end of the film, she let a little bit more of the “real” Lucy show through.
It seemed evident that the real Lucy was lonely, and maybe a little bit scared of a possible future as a crazy old Psyduck lady with a houseful of migraine-ridden psychic explosions waiting to happen. Fortunately, for Lucy, the events of the movie take place, and instead she forces her way into Tim’s life trying to find a national news-worthy story in the process. And she does so in fashionable, functional, and appropriate/modest attire.
Then we move onto Bill Nighy and Ken Watanabe. I have loved both actors over the years in their various roles. Both do a better than fair job in this film, though there were some awkward moments between Smith and Watanabe’s characters, but they also seemed intentional. Nighy does a wonderful job in side roles and supporting characters, really bringing them to life, but where he truly shines are his villains (Underworld, and Underworld Rise of the Lycans for example)
*Spoilers ahead, turn back now*
Nighy definitely doesn’t disappoint here either, when one of the major twists of the film reveals that the philanthropic hero of Ryme City, Howard Clifford, is actually insane and bent on joining bodies with the most powerful Pokemon in the world. He chooses this course of action because a degenerative disease has crippled his body and he will only deteriorate further as time goes on. His dastardly plot doesn’t stop there, however, as he intends to push the world towards evolution (see what I did there) by combining all of the people of the world with their Pokemon thanks to his newly acquired Mewtwo powers. Strange plan, but who am I to judge?
After a lengthy – but not too lengthy – final battle sequence that splits between our various heroes fighting throughout the city, we arrive at our much anticipated happy ending: Tim and Pikachu save the day, with a bit of help from Lucy; the bad guy gets wheeled off to jail; the human/Pokemon partners grow even closer; the heroes are recognized for their good deeds; and the good guy might just get the girl (I appreciated that we were never explicitly told they would be together, just that it was a possibility, much like the ending to the movie Constantine, starring Keanu Reeves). The final twist in the film was something I didn’t see coming. It definitely took me by surprise – which is unusual for any movie – and so much so that I found myself confused at first.
So, what about Tim’s dad, the one everyone but Pikachu thought was dead…you know, because he could feel it in his “Jellies?” What happened to the dad that was referenced and shown in many of the flashbacks and even visions from various technology as well as psychic Pokemon; the dad who’s face they made a point of never showing (almost to the extent of throwing it in your face…pun very much intended)? Well, there’s a reason our beloved Pikachu was the only one who could talk (out loud, as Mewtwo can evidently talk psychically to humans) and a reason he was voiced by Ryan Reynolds.
We were originally led to believe that Tim could understand Pikachu because he was accidentally sprayed by a gaseous chemical that good ol’ Howard was` synthesizing in an effort to achieve his goal, but this was only a red herring. It was actually thanks to Mewtwo, who had combined the missing father with Pikachu in an effort to save the dying detective and hide him until Tim was able to solve the mystery. Then, as a favor to Tim and Pikachu for saving him (along with everyone present during the big finale), Mewtwo healed Detective Goodman and returned him to his own body. As it turns out, the voice of Ryan Reynolds was not simply the voice of Ryan Reynolds, it was the voice of Tim’s father after he was combined with Pikachu. It just so happens that Tim’s father was also played by Ryan Reynolds. This left our beloved Pikachu as just a regular old adorable Pikachu, and left the father and son an opening to begin reconciling their years of estrangement. Confused yet?
Was the ending a little silly, a bit confusing, and corny? Perhaps. Did it make plausible sense within the context of the film, and did it make sense as the only real way it could/should have ended? Definitely. Maybe someone could have written a better ending. It’s possible, but I don’t think I would have been happy if it had gone any other way. Was I disappointed that Tim lost his Pokemon friend with a voice that made me want to shout “I love you PikaPool” with every joke or fun moment? Of course I was, but the movie went full circle and resolved just about everything in an acceptable way.
In my opinion, there was one major thing missing – that I’m glad wasn’t included – and that's sex appeal. It’s something that often seems to slither its way into kids films. I get that many adults will also see the various kid flicks out there, but that doesn’t give filmmakers a right to throw in sexually appealing characters and costumes that reveal more than the cover of most Cosmo magazines. I was happy they dressed Lucy in a way that would make even hardcore SWJ’s proud.
Final rating: 9.1/10
Comments