"Detective Pikachu" Review

Detective Pikachu was one hell of a ride from start to finish. This movie bolsters some of the best CG work I have seen in years and that’s extra special since it is an even more beloved series. The settings and shots of this movie constantly make me forget I am watching a Pokémon movie even though Pikachu and his new founded detective hat kept staring me right in my face. I do not know if it is a praise on the story or not, but the existence of Pokémon for the story was a lot smoother and more believable at times than I believed I would experience. For a movie to constantly bombard its viewers with bright and colorful “pocket monsters” it was quite dark at times and surprisingly created a world and experience I never felt before. Obviously, I am talking a lot of praise to this movie so far and to be completely honest, It was great!

The Mystery presented in Detective Pikachu isn't the most complicated or hard to figure out for most older viewers, but there is something magical in place in this movie. Maybe it’s the fact that its Pokémon, Ryan Reynolds, beautiful to look at, or maybe that it’s the first successful or “good” movie based off a video game (Step aside Wreck it Ralph you fake video game) but there is an undeniable level of quality this movie reached and frankly…I doubt anybody believed it would actually be this good once they heard the announcement of “Detective Pikachu.”

The lead actors/actresses (Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton) all had a major part in making this movie stand out and be special for all Poké fans all over the world. From Ryan Reynolds’ overall humor and snarky deliverance as Pikachu, and with Justice and Kathryn’s dynamic later in the movie standing out, it is a very well-acted and delivered feature film/

The only complaint I could have with the movie (or anyone could have) is that if someone was not completely understanding of what Pokémon is (but how could they not by now) they may be confused at some parts of the movie, but one thing I quickly observed is that this movie would be fun for families, adults, grandparents, and all people regardless of Pokémon knowledge. With some adult focused jokes, that could easily go over a child’s head, viewers of all ages will find a laugh or two throughout the movie regardless of their knowledge of the series or their age.

Detective Pikachu is a real love letter to the longtime and new founded fans of Pokémon alike. With its great visuals, writing, and deliverance from it’s lead roles, this is a movie that non Poké fans can enjoy… but if you are like me and even slightly enjoy the franchise… do yourself a favor and go see this movie once or twice. I am already planning my second time out to the theaters to see this again.

86%

★★★★

4/5 

Great 

Written by Parker Hanson.

All opinions expressed are exclusive to the writer and do not represent the entirety of Stat X Media.

Movie Scoring rubric:

★ : 1 point  ☆ : 0.5 points

★★★★★: Essential. Excellent movies. Close to flawless. Transcends any minor flaws it may have. 

   ★★★★: Great/Highly recommended. Great movies. Some flaws worth mentioning, but nothing to worry about.

      ★★★: Okay/Recommended. Good movies. Contains things worth watching & experiencing, but flaws can hinder the experience.

         ★★: Caution/Questionable. Mediocre movies. The flaws start to significantly hinder anything good the movie has

             ★: Avoid. Bad movies with nothing redeemable about them (some enjoyment as "so bad its good). Preferably don't waste your time.