Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
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RYME CITY — It seems like every year, a movie is announced and I just shake my head that a studio poured that much money into its concept.
The trailer comes out and it intrigues me a bit, and then the movie comes out and it’s hard not to like. The 2019 movie that’s done that to me is “Pokémon Detective Pikachu.”
The film is based off the popular Pokémon phenomenon and specifically the Nintendo game Detective Pikachu. Movies based off video games are typically terrible, but I have to admit this one wasn’t that bad.
Here are a few of the clues as to why “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is worth investigating:
It’s funny
The trailers for the film had moments here and there that made me chuckle. I was worried the funniest parts of the films were already in the trailer, but I was wrong.
While the movie won’t make you drop to the aisle and roll around with laughter, it will get you to burst out a few times and possibly cause a spit take or two if you’re sipping on a soda at the wrong time.
Something I appreciated was the fact it made both me and my 6-year-old son laugh. I found a lot of the one-liners and conversations to be clever, and he found many of the gags and jokes to be downright hilarious.
There is one scene in particular that made me laugh, but when I looked down my son was in tears from laughing so hard. Afterward he asked me what the funniest movie I’d ever seen was. I didn’t have a good answer, but he jumped in to let me know “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” was the funniest thing he’d ever seen. He is six and that answer will probably change in a day or two when he sees something else, but he genuinely enjoyed the movie.
Ryan Reynolds makes an excellent Pokémon
Love him or hate him, Ryan Reynolds has an infectious personality and has charm to spare. While we don’t see his handsome face on screen, we do get to hear his voice as the titular character.
Somehow he was the perfect person to voice the fuzzy, yellow detective. His voice doesn’t match that of a cat-like Pokémon with thunderbolt capabilities, and that juxtaposition made for a lot of odd fun. His delivery was also fitting.
Reynolds is a fine actor and there is an art to voice acting. Reynolds lent his voice to the 2013 film “Turbo” and he did some good work there and has done even better here. Personally, I think voice acting is terribly underrated and Reynolds' performance here is worth noting.
The story is compelling
This is supposed to be a noir-type film with shady characters, surprising twists and moody lighting.
The shady characters happen to be other Pokémon, such as Charizards, Aipoms and Lickitungs. The twists involve Pokémon double-crossing each other, and the moody lighting is provided by Pokémon that light up. It's all pretty absurd, but somehow it works.
There are enough twists to keep you interested. The filmmakers do a pretty good job of letting us in on what a world filled with Pokémon and humans looks like and how it works without too much boring exposition.
The filmmakers also managed to get a good amount of heart into the film, especially with one scene that features Pikachu and Justice Smith's character, Tim, that will tug at your heartstrings.
Some twists are telegraphed a little too much and others aren’t earned, but overall it makes for a fun journey that will likely catch you off guard at least once.
We’ve seen this before
There is a Pokémon called Ditto that can shape shift into anything or anyone else, and at times “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” feels like Ditto.
There was more than once while I was watching it that I said to myself, "I’m watching 'Zootopia.'" Then a few minutes later I’d tell myself, "I’m watching 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?'" Then I'd go back and say, "No, this is 'Zootopia.'"
While I won’t say “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is a total rip off of either of those movies, there are definitely some striking similarities that are hard to shake.
Conclusion
“Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is not going to be the best movie of 2019, and it isn’t the best live action/animated movie you’ve ever seen, but it is funny and an entertaining 104 minutes at the movies.
Some moments will make you roll your eyes while others will make your kids roll in the aisles and at least put a smile on your face.
“Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is rated PG for action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements. Check KSL.com on Friday to see a content guide for parents for “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” so you can know what to expect to see in the film.
