Pokémon Detective Pikachu Movie Review - Humans and Pokémon—Together.

Meitantei-Pikachu-Wallpaper Pokémon Detective Pikachu Movie Review - Humans and Pokémon—Together.

Humans and Pokémon - Together.

  • Episodes : Action, Adventure, Comedy
  • Airing Date : May 10, 2019
  • Studios : Legendary Entertainment (as Legendary Pictures), The Pokémon Company, Toho Company (in association with) (as Toho Co., Ltd), Warner Bros.

Contains Spoilers

Pokémon Detective Pikachu Introduction and Story

Ryme City is the only city in the whole Pokémon world where humans and Pokémon live together. When 21-year-old Tim Goodman’s father, Detective Harry Goodman, seemingly dies, Tim heads from his small town where he lives with his grandmother to Ryme City to collect his father’s things. When he arrives at his father’s apartment, Tim encounters his father’s partner Pokémon, a pikachu. This pikachu can mysteriously talk to Tim, but no one else seems to be able to hear him or communicate with him.

Then, Pikachu convinces Tim that his father isn’t dead and that they should work together to find him since Tim doesn’t have a Pokémon partner and his is missing. The two set out to find the truth behind what happened to his father. Both Tim and Pikachu join up with an aspiring reporter, Lucy Stevens, and her partner Pokémon, a psyduck. During their investigation, the two interrogate suspects, infiltrate a Pokémon battle ring, and uncover a conspiracy concerning Mewtwo. Of course, the movie has a happy ending, but we at Honey’s won’t spoil what happens.

Why You Should Watch Pokémon Detective Pikachu

1. There Are a Variety of Pokémon.

One of the worries many Pokémon fans had was how many Pokémon were actually going to be in the movie. Surprisingly, there was quite a variety that covered many generations and not just the first one. Moviegoers get to see all of the first generation starters as well as Pokémon like greninja and ludicolo.

2. Fans Will Appreciate the Effort Put Into the Movie.

In the movie Detective Pikachu, moviegoers will get to see a couple of evolutions, a Pokémon battle, and Pokémon that look quite hyper-realistic. Unlike other movies that don’t keep to their origins, this movie stays true to the Pokémon franchise with quips about the Pokémon themselves, references to Pokémon trainers and Pokémon leagues, and nods to the different Pokémon and their personalities.

3. The Story is Cute and Funny.

If moviegoers haven’t played the Detective Pikachu games, that’s all right. This movie doesn’t borrow much from the games themselves, but does a good job of combining the concept of a pikachu detective with a real Pokémon world. There are funny cringey moments and hysterical ones as well, including Pikachu singing a sad rendition of the Pokémon theme song Gotta Catch ‘Em All.

Why You Should Skip Pokémon Detective Pikachu

1. The Hyper-Realistic Style Isn’t For Everyone.

To be frank, some of the Pokémon look downright strange. Of course, Pokémon have only really been viewed in their animated form, so seeing them look more realistic emphasizes that “monster” part that comes from “pocket monster.” Not all Pokémon are as cute as Pikachu or a bulbasaur.

2. There Aren’t Any Real, True Pokémon Battles.

Detective Pikachu is all about finding Tim’s dad, Harry. Therefore, there are mentions of Pokémon battling, but that’s been outlawed in Ryme City, so the closest thing that moviegoers get to an actual Pokémon battle is the underground ring that Tim and Pikachu get into to investigate the mysterious R serum. However, when Pikachu gets into the ring, he finds that he can’t even use his powers because he has amnesia and forgot how to use them. Quite a big letdown for Pokémon fans.

3. The Story and Characters Aren’t Very Original.

To be quite honest, the Detective Pikachu movie isn’t all that original. The story involves using Mewtwo and him breaking out of yet another lab and disappearing. Other characters, like Lucy Stevens, don’t have a lot of depth and end up being a bit annoying to listen to for older viewers.

Final Thoughts

The Pokémon Detective Pikachu movie is the first hyper-realistic one ever created and produced for the big screen. While the anime is full of cute or strange but quirky Pokémon, Detective Pikachu really demonstrates just how different they really would be in real life. As a Pokémon movie, this hyper-realistic version, though lacking battles, is interesting and fun to watch for all ages. Die-hard Pokémon fans will probably watch it regardless, but it’s most likely not everyone’s can of soda pop (Price: 300 Pokédollar)



Author: Jessica

As a full-time freelancer (translating, proofreading, and writing) and coffee-lover, I’ve turned into a complete workaholic. People often say “work hard, play hard” but I’m not about that life. While I love traveling and working on the go (like going to cons), I’m more often than not holed up in a coffee shop or at home, multi-tasking more things than I should.

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