Pokémon Detective Pikachu Review

Pokémon: Detective Pikachu

Release Date: 9th May 2019 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

Legendary Entertainment (presents)

The Pokémon Company

Toho Company (in association with)
Province of British Columbia Production Services Tax Credit
Nintendo (additional copyright holder)
Creatures (additional copyright holder)
GAME FREAK (additional copyright holder)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Family/Mystery

Rating: PG

Runtime: 104 minutes

Budget: $150,000,000

Box Office Gross: $433,230,304 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary

When an expert detective named Harry Goodman is missing, it's up to his son Tim to find out about his disappearance. Tim teams up with Harry's former Pokémon partner, a Pikachu (only Tim can communicate), who tags along and helps with the investigation. They set out on a mystery in the sprawling metropolis of Ryme City, where humans and Pokémon peacefully co-exist before they unravel a shocking discovery that could destroy the Pokémon universe.

Cast

Ryan Reynolds - Detective Pikachu

Justice Smith - Tim Goodman

Kathryn Love Newton - Lucy Stevens

Bill Nighy - Howard Clifford

Ken Watanabe - Lieutenant Hide Yoshida

Chris Geere - Roger Clifford

Suki Waterhouse - Ms. Norman

Josette Simon - Grams

Rita Ora - Dr. Ann Laurent

Karan Soni - Jack

Max Fincham - Young Tim Goodman

Ikue Ôtani - Pikachu (Voice)
Rina Hoshino - Mewtwo (Voice)
Kotaro Watanabe - Mewtwo (Voice)

Crew

Screenplay/Director - Rob Letterman
Based on "Pokémon" - Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori and Junichi Masuda
Characters - Atsuko Nishida
Original Story - Tomokazu Ohara and Haruka Utsui

Original Creator: "Detective Pikachu" - Hiroyuki Jinnai
Story/Screenplay - Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit
Story - Nicole Perlman
Screenplay - Derek Connolly
Executive Producer/Unit Production Manager -

Joseph M. Caraccioli Jr.
Executive Producers - Tsunekazu Ishihara,

Hiro Matsuoka, Ali Mendes, Toshio Miyahara,

Kenji Okubo and Koji Ueda
Producers - Cale Boyter,
Hidenaga Katakimi, Don McGowan
and Mary Parent
Co-Producer/Visual Effects Producer -

Greg Baxter

Co-Producer - Lisa Dennis
Co-Producer/First Assistant Director -
Cliff Lanning
Casting Directors - Sarah Finn and
Jina Jay
Production Designer - Nigel Phelps

Production Designer: Additional Photography -

Shepherd Frankel
Supervising Art Directors - Ben Collins

and David Allday
Art Directors - Andrea Borland,
Guy Bradley, Nick Dent, Shira Hockman,
Rhys Ifan and Nic Pallace

Set Decorator - Lisa Chugg
Costume Designer - Suzie Harman

Makeup and Hair Designer - Frances Hannon
Cinematography - John Mathieson

Aerial Director of Photography - Adam Dale

Production Supervisor - Jessica Derhammer

Unit Production Manager - Sam Breckman

Supervising Location Manager - Chris Moore

Location Managers - Susannah Booker,

Jamie Jones, Mandy Sharpe and

Julia Tomlinson (Uncredited)
Second Unit Director - Stephen Wolfenden
Stunt Coordinator - Mark Henson

Picture Vehicles Supervisor - Alex King

Special Effects Supervisor - Steven Warner
Visual Effects Supervisor - Erik Nordby

Visual Effects Supervisors: MPC - Pete Dionne

and Bryan Litson

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -

Jonathan Fawkner

Visual Effects Supervisor: Framestore -

Carlos Monzon

Visual Effects Supervisor: Rodeo FX - Peter Nofz
Visual Effects Producers: Framestore -

Johannes Bresser and Martina Chakarova
Visual Effects Consultant - Page Buckner

Creature Creative Designer - Kristyan Mallett

Animation Supervisor - Ferran Domenech

Compositing Supervisors: Framestore -

Dominique Fiore and Gavin McKenzie

Assets Supervisor: Image Engine -

Barry Poon

Previz Creative Supervisors: The Third Floor,

Inc. - Vincent Aupetit, Nicolas Markel

and Joshua Wassung

Film Editors - Mark Sanger and
James Thomas

Supervising Sound Editors: E2 - Erik Aadahl

and Ethan Van der Ryan

Sound Designers: E2 - John Marquis and

Brandon Jones

Production Sound Mixer - John Midgley

Re-Recording Mixers - Jon Taylor

and Frank A. Montano

Creative Director: End Titles - Jarik Van Sluijs

Music Supervisors - Peter Afterman

and Margaret Yen
Music - Henry Jackman

Review

I remember getting introduced to Pokémon as a kid, and it seems so long ago that I started playing a few of its games. Then I started watching the anime show on Channel 10 on Cheez TV and Cartoon Network. I was excited to hear that a live-action film of the Pokémon franchise was in the works. Unfortunately, I wasn't expecting that there would be a movie based on a specific spin-off video game of the franchise called DETECTIVE PIKACHU. I was sceptical about the film that focuses on the titular Pokémon character who talks like a human because it seemed weird. In other words, I had low expectations. Particularly when Ryan Reynolds, who many would know as the actor who played Deadpool, gets cast as the voice of Pikachu. My opinion shifted for the better when I read the film's reviews that showered it with praise.

Unlike the other Pokémon features that received mixed reviews, critics were less caustic towards this one. Most video game movie adaptations didn't have a good track record, with some turning out to be disappointments in the critical and box-office reception. Thankfully, DETECTIVE PIKACHU turned things the right way around and is the best video game movie adaptation I have watched. The humour is very witty and offbeat. It makes the film extremely satisfying to watch. Reynolds' talking Pikachu was the reason why the movie was so funny. Another layer to DETECTIVE PIKACHU was the mystery that contains intrigue and twists to keep moviegoers watching.

Reynolds did a fantastic job voicing the titular character with charm and comic timing. Reynolds was a blast for this movie but also had some heartfelt moments in his performance. Justice Smith was not the best actor in Hollywood, but he was okay in his role as Tim. Bill Nighy is still Bill Nighy, and it was unexpected to see him in a movie based on the Pokémon franchise. I felt the CGI visuals were good and made the Pokémon alive for this film.

I have nothing more to say about DETECTIVE PIKACHU, but it is a must-see movie for all Pokémon fans. Some fans may not like it, but it won't stop them from watching and enjoying the anime series and playing the franchise's video games.

Star rating: (10/10) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home