Peter Hartlaub

The movie is too lethargic for its own good, and many of the events and minor characters don't quite ring true.

Reynolds often seems lost for material, whether it’s the restrictions of the PG rating, or deficiencies created by the four screenwriters. By the halfway mark Pikachu might as well be in an “Alvin and the Chipmunks” sequel, resorting to bodily function jokes.

The result isn't a great film, but it's true to the original brutal vision.

Ponderous, repetitive and lacking a single rousing action sequence.

The uneven result is definitely not for prudish moviegoers, definitely funny for everyone else, and even approaches poignancy in one or two scenes.

It's a kids' movie from a better time, with a few small concessions to modern audiences.