Pokémon: Detective Pikachu Review – IGN

By Joshua Yehl

It was a bit of a headache when we heard that the first-ever live Pokémon movie would not feature Ash Ketchum (or even Red), but rather detective Pikachu, a quick-witted investigator who would have the nose to find clues and an alarming effect. caffeine addiction. But between detective Pikachu's Pokémon, a big-hearted story, and Ryan Reynolds' spirited and clever performance as the main character, it's easy to see why Pokémon: Detective Pikachu is super efficient.

Detective Pikachu follows the eternally exasperated Tim Goodman, played with a wry twist of humor on the part of Justice Smith, a young man who prefers to keep himself away from the fantastic beasts that populate his world. Although it may seem strange for a Pokémon movie to tell the story of a guy who does not like Pokémon anymore, it actually shows why Pokémon are so special in the first place. Tim was a child who decorated his room with Pokémon products, collected Pokémon cards and wanted to become a Pokémon coach. Since many viewers can probably tell it, detective Pikachu uses this meta-story to take Tim (and us) in memory to try to revive this childhood love / dependence.

The way Detective Pikachu takes it, however, defies expectations with detective Pikachu, with whom Tim teams up to solve the mystery of what happened to his missing father. But this is not the merry obedient Pikachu of the anime. It's a precocious, obsessive-compulsive Pikachu that makes Tim climb a wall. Still, what is annoying for Tim is hilarious for us and it is the dynamic between the characters of Reynolds and Smith that seduces you with charm.

But now let's talk about the first reason you bought a ticket for this movie: the Pokemon. The first trip to the metropolis of the city of Ryme, teeming with Pokémon, evokes a level of wonder, enthusiasm and respect that has not been felt since Harry Potter first visited Hogwarts. Traditionally, Pokémon are housed in Pokeballs where they are not hidden, but this film lets them out so we can enjoy the thrill of "Who's That Pokémon?", As we try to spot the last in a given frame.

The different Pokémon enter the world of live-action with an impressive authenticity that elicits all kinds of reactions. There are cute little ones like Jigglypuff and Psyduck, strange wonders like Loudred and Greninja and the awesome Charizard and Mewtwo. Then there is the disturbing creature that is Mr. Mime, who is strange enough to vaguely resemble a human while being strange enough to be recognizable as a Pokemon. The film embraces them while emphasizing that they are above all pocket monsters, which could give rise to some nightmares.

The most impressive is how Pokémon feels like a natural part of the world, whether it's a Treecko sticking lazily to the window of a clerk or Ludicolo working as a barista. This also extends to Pokémon in nature. One scene in particular features a group of bulbasaurs trotting through the forest surprising Morelull's bioluminescent fleet, creating a moment of peaceful beauty in a Miyazaki film. It's these little touches that give life to these cartoon creatures.

Although Pokémon is the biggest joy of the film, the story is not quite up to par. The plot is incredibly predictable and easy to follow … as long as it's not. But the point at which things get a little complicated is also when Detective Pikachu moves up a gear for the grand finale. It may be by design, because the many dazzling stunts provide just enough adrenaline to make you forget this last twist that does not really make sense. Nevertheless, Detective Pikachu makes bold choices to subvert the expectations of the most experienced and true Pokémon fans, which is very enjoyable, helping to alleviate these problems.

Detective Pikachu plays with the tropes of crime novels and black films, transforming Pikachu into a fuzzy Sherlock Holmes, with super-fast quips and almost no attention span. Tim is irritated by this yellow creature and is questioning his sanity, because, like everyone who knows the rules of Pokemon, the little guys are not supposed to talk. This creates a fun and cool dynamic in which Tim can get information from humans while Pikachu communicates with the Pokémon, allowing them to combine their talents to get to the bottom of things … if they can do it. to hear first. The way detective Pikachu shows these two evolutions that evolve from a contradiction to the search for common ground helps to give the antics a strong emotional core.

Kathryn Newton, a participant in the local television channel, accompanies Tim and Pikachu in the affair with the help of his faithful Psyduck. While Newton does what she can with the material, Lucy's character feels like she's trying to be too much at once. Is she an intelligent subversion of the femme fatale? A budding journalist? Detective Pikachu never really decides.

The special ingredient that does detective Pikachu's work is his sense of humor by diapers. There are a lot of ridiculous gags, but with Reynolds in the leading role, it should not offend anyone to think that some jokes tip the scales on the risky side and others that go beyond it. It's this flashing fare, more adult-oriented, that makes kids and adults laugh, albeit for quite different reasons. I mean, who does not want to hear Pikachu make a joke about cocaine?

Detective Pikachu impresses not only with his cheerful humor, but with the fact that he is not too precious with the Pokémon brand, which is generally family friendly. Detective Pikachu is very willing to make fun of himself while showing respect for the source document, which allows for deep references that only the most dedicated Pokémani could find.