Detective Pikachu made it clear that it doesn’t want to stick to the formula set by the animated Pokémon series and movie.
A new world of Pokémon
The film sets down some firm ground rules when creating this new Pokémon universe. People in the movie know who the Pokémon is, what a Pokémon battle consists of, and the way in which humans interact with their lovable monsters. This is a different approach compared to other animation crossovers, which feel the need to make the first movie into an origin story. Detective Pikachu creates a world where Pokémon are normal and just another part of everyday life.
There is no mysteriously thrilling story, nonetheless, the entire movie is extremely entertaining even though the scenes are fairly predictable.
The cast of Detective Pikachu
Detective Pikachu follows, Tim (Justice Smith) while he investigates his father’s disappearance. He finds himself partnered with a strange Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) to try and retrace his dad’s last steps before he vanished. Their investigation leads them to budding news reporter Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), her Pokémon bud Psyduck, and a much bigger conspiracy. This isn’t a story about Pokémon aiding in a ‘gotta catch-’em-all’ journey, governed by the slightly narcissistic actions of a Pokémon trainer. The Pokémon characters receiver far more depth and some of the best parts of the movie are just watching them interact outside of what is allowed by their Pokémon trainers.
Pokémon has always relied on the intimate relationship between players and their creatures, and Detective Pikachu follows that stepping stone by honing in on Pikachu and Tim’s progressive friendship.
Ryan Reynolds has fun in his role as Pikachu and elevates the iconic cartoon character to something more than a sidekick. He is well aware that he’s playing a yellow mouse with the ability to shoot electricity out of his rosy cheeks.
Detective Pikachu is a carefree, silly and entertaining journey and potentially the start of something new in the Pokémon universe!
