Rating of
3/4
Video game movies inch closer to high quality.
Indyfreak - wrote on 09/16/19
A funny heartwarming live action version of the Pokemon franchise, Detective Pikachu ranks up there with Jumanji 2 as one of the best video game movies ever. Ryan Reynolds loans his comedic talent as the fast talking critter as he helps protagonist Tim Goodman (a little too on the nose) solve a confounding mystery in a dazzling metropolis where humans and Pokemon live side-by-side.
There are notable actors in this movie but the real stars of the movie are the pocket monsters themselves, the CGI design is appropriately cartoon-like but grounded enough that some examples are quite lifelike, Pikachu himself being the standout. There is a surprising amount of adult humor that will fly over kids heads but older viewers will enjoy.
The nostalgia factor does work in its favor as long-time fans will recognize their favorite creatures.Justice Smith fares better in this than in Jurassic World 2 but he is still wooden in the dramatic moments. Kathryn Newton is better as his love interest and the dual protagonist. But Ryan Reynolds playing a furry superpowered little guy like Pikachu is easily the best thing about this movie and elevates it from ordinary fluff to slightly more memorable fluff that is better than it has any reason to be.
