Pokémon Detective Pikachu
Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 10, 2019
7.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 912 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
669
Mixed:
188
Negative:
55
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
ImaginaryCriticJul 28, 2019
Not a big Pokemon so I came in with no expectations. It has its moments and its a cute family friendly film. But what I really felt was this movie felt bland and pretty unnecessary. Its in the era of remakes and it didn't work for me. It hasNot a big Pokemon so I came in with no expectations. It has its moments and its a cute family friendly film. But what I really felt was this movie felt bland and pretty unnecessary. Its in the era of remakes and it didn't work for me. It has three stars cause I can see why people like it and its for everybody.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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5
JessthespiderJul 29, 2019
It's just a buddy cop movie with pokemon. It's really predictable and nothing all to crazy happens. But It's not really the worst movie I have seen. It feels like a lot of care went into it and like they really wanted it to be good but theyIt's just a buddy cop movie with pokemon. It's really predictable and nothing all to crazy happens. But It's not really the worst movie I have seen. It feels like a lot of care went into it and like they really wanted it to be good but they didn't know how to do it. They did the best they could, it's just there best is not very good.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
MahmusAug 22, 2019
It's far from perfect, but it's mostly what a good pokemon movie should be.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
SouthernhammerMay 12, 2019
Please ignore the reviews saying this is a 10/10 movie because it definitely isn't. The world itself is fantastic to see. The whole Pokemon and people living side by side aspect is incredible and I spent every scene trying to drink it all inPlease ignore the reviews saying this is a 10/10 movie because it definitely isn't. The world itself is fantastic to see. The whole Pokemon and people living side by side aspect is incredible and I spent every scene trying to drink it all in and had a great time.

However, the plot itself and the general story telling is very poor and it's such a shame that they rush through a lot of immersive world scenes just to have the next generic run of the mill detective scene. Very poor story telling really let this movie down and it's a huge shame because the world they had built deserved better. It is still worth a watch but just know that the story itself will not hook you and you'll see a lot of the same tired cliches done poorly.… Expand
4 of 8 users found this helpful44
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6
Rej72380May 10, 2019
Detective Pikachu is a film that is good as a Pokemon licensed flick, but as a regular movie it's somewhat mediocre. Ryan Reynolds does an fair job playing as the titular character of the film, with Justice Smith playing as his human partner.Detective Pikachu is a film that is good as a Pokemon licensed flick, but as a regular movie it's somewhat mediocre. Ryan Reynolds does an fair job playing as the titular character of the film, with Justice Smith playing as his human partner. It takes an avid Pokemon fan to fully comprehend the plot to the film, hence the rating of a 6.… Expand
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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6
ColginatorMay 11, 2019
When they first announced a live action Pokemon movie, there was instantly a concern that the film could end up being a disaster. Largely because it seems like such a difficult thing to translate all of their 2d designs into a 3d environmentWhen they first announced a live action Pokemon movie, there was instantly a concern that the film could end up being a disaster. Largely because it seems like such a difficult thing to translate all of their 2d designs into a 3d environment without having them end up looking incredibly creepy. Just look at the goombas in the Super Mario Bros. or whatever that blue thing was in the trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie and you’ll see how bad these kind of adaptations can go. But here, the VFX team and conceptual designers behind this movie nailed every one of these designs, bringing these Pokemon in to a live action world without losing any of the charm of the original designs. Beyond the visual aesthetic, they do a fantastic job at establishing all of the Pokemon’s personalities. There are so many little touches that show a real appreciation for the franchises lore, like Charizard's weakness being his tail or mentioning Cubone wears his mother's skull. Plus there are so many great gags and moments through seeing the Pokemon interact with the world, like Machop organising traffic around a napping snorlax or a team of squirtles working for the fire department. Seeing the way they adapt their world around these Pokemon is sure to satisfy any long time fan of the franchise. But for people who didn’t grow up with the games, there’s probably not going to be much here. Unlike something like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, where even without all the animated characters there’s still a cool noir inspired mystery, the rest of Detective Pikachu doesn’t really hold up. We have a basic setup where after a detective goes missing, the detective's son arrives in the city to find out what happened. Whilst there he bumps into a Pikachu who is a detective and sets out to help him find out what happened to his father. They quickly uncover your typical conspiracy and realise that they need to save the city.

There’s a lot of inconsistencies throughout the film that don’t really add up and you’ll probably be able to guess most of the plot within the first 20 minutes of the film. Although there is one goofy twist with one Pokemon which I won’t spoil but did get a few great chuckles out of me. As much as I’m still hoping for a Danny Devito dub of the film, Reynolds did a pretty great job as Detective Pikachu. He infuses a lot of his own personality in to the role, but still keeps it distinct enough so it doesn’t just feel like another Deadpool. But whilst all the Pokemon characters are all colourful and memorable, all the humans are just very bland by comparison. Kathryn Newton was pretty funny early on, playing her role as ridiculously over the top as a live action anime character should be, but it felt like her role simmered out as the film went on. Then the rest of the human felt like they were only there to move the story along and didn’t have enough of a personality to leave any real impression. This film is probably going to split audiences into two categories. If you’re a fan of the franchise, there’s enough comedy and fan service that you’ll probably have a good time. But if Pokemon’s never been your thing, this isn’t the film that’s going to change your mind. I guess it may technically be the best movie based on a video game. But when the competition includes the likes of Uwe Boll movies, Max Payne and Assassins Creed, that’s not really much of a compliment.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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6
BulgarianCriticMay 13, 2019
As a guy who only knew the first generation pokemon i think it was a pretty good movie with nice effects.But i also think that they shouldve kept the story more light hearted it had too many serious moments and some pretty predictableAs a guy who only knew the first generation pokemon i think it was a pretty good movie with nice effects.But i also think that they shouldve kept the story more light hearted it had too many serious moments and some pretty predictable twists.I was also expecting more comedy since i mean come on ITS DETECTIVE PIKACHU FFS.Overall pretty ok movie for pokemon and non pokemon fans… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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5
GrimStomperMay 13, 2019
Nothing special about this movie. It's easy to get lost in the fact that a live action Pokemon movie was made, but it doesn't hide the fact that the movie is just as mediocre as every other video game movie adaptation out there. One of theNothing special about this movie. It's easy to get lost in the fact that a live action Pokemon movie was made, but it doesn't hide the fact that the movie is just as mediocre as every other video game movie adaptation out there. One of the glaring flaws (and the worst flaw) about the movie is that the dialogue is terrible; it tries way too hard to be funny and if they did it less frequently I would've been able to get through the movie in less pain. If you're a video game fan then this movie will satisfy you enough to get through the cringy dialogue. If not, I would pass on this one.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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6
CyberRobotnixMay 11, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Well, I must say I kinda expected this movie to be as good as any other movie from Hollywood that tries to cater to a younger demographic (or about 60% of their movies for that matter).

I'll start with the least problematic con (consider that as a nitpick), the protagonist in the game is a white guy, but in the movie he was replaced by a black guy for the sake of inclusivity. I honestly could care less, you could replace the protagonist by the green dude from "Dame Tu Cosita" and it would still be enjoyable if the movie was good to begin with. As a fun fact, Pixels did the same **** by putting in a midget for the sake of inclusivity.

Now the real kicker, the story is bad. It is very erratic and it doesn't know how to progress so basically sometimes the flow of the story is slow, sometimes it is as fast as all hell and in the meantime you don't learn anything meaningful, like wow the Mr Mime interrogation is the best example to point that out, that's just wasting the viewer's time and the protagonist goes to several places not knowing where to go to progress the investigation.

On the same subject, the movie doesn't know who to choose as the main antagonist, first you think it's the whamen with the Psyduck because she harasses the protagonist, then you think it's the son of Clifford, Roger Clifford (he was the main antagonist in the game after all), then you think it's that guy with the Charizard since he had those drugs that made Pokemons go bat**** crazy on him, then you think it's Mewtwo as an ode to the first movie (you could imagine he was a side villain, but like not the main villain at the very beginning of the movie) and finally plot twist, plot twist, it was actually Howard Clifford. Damn, choose your main villain within the first half of the movie goddamnit, atleast Pixels did that correctly!

Overall, a mediocre movie. I am so hyped to see how awful will be Paramount's Sonic movie and the rumoured upcoming Mario movie, I'll expect the same subpar quality that this movie had.… Expand
2 of 5 users found this helpful23
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5
Niles2K14May 10, 2019
The movie was average to say the least. It has pacing issues whereas the plot goes by way too quickly, it's not able to flow naturally. The characters especially seem like plot devices than anything else. They just spew out their data dump orThe movie was average to say the least. It has pacing issues whereas the plot goes by way too quickly, it's not able to flow naturally. The characters especially seem like plot devices than anything else. They just spew out their data dump or make long-winded speeches about the plot and Tim drifts along from one part of the plot to the next in a frantic manner. Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu is definitely one of the saving graces of this film because of how snarky and charismatic he can be. There are moments though when Pikachu talks way too much and it gets annoying when Tim's talking with somebody and Pikachu keeps adding in his two cents about what's going on which distracts me sometimes. I also find that the movie tries so hard to juggle being an action movie, a noir story and a comedy, it takes away from the mystery of the plot since it's extremely predictable. The plot twists suffer as a result of how predictable the plot is. I won't go into too much detail about that though. As for the main villain, I can't say much about him since he's extremely forgettable. In fact, he behaves like a villain from a Saturday morning cartoon. Despite all of these issues I have with the movie, the Pokemon look excellent in CGI live action. Their designs are near-perfect recreations of their video game designs though Mr. Mime and Ditto can be utterly creepy. I also like the graphical effects of the Pokemon's moves. Ryme City especially looks magical because of the diversity of Pokemon that inhabit the city while cooperating with the humans. It gives a sense of world-building though in actuality, the movie severely lacks world-building because of how insubstantial the plot is. This movie is pure fan service for Pokemon fans though it's mainly aimed towards the kids. It's not a bad movie at all, but it's extremely far from being the "best video game-movie". I would like a sequel to this and if there ends up being one, hopefully it improves upon this movie's pacing issues since that's the biggest problem I have with it.… Expand
3 of 9 users found this helpful36
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4
FurryEskimoMay 11, 2019
This was hard to watch..
The plot was, confusing.. The dad's dead, he isn't, he is, he isn't, he is,,,, on and on..
There's a pointless and confusing villain twist at the end.. The acting is so cringy, reminding me of disney child moviesThis was hard to watch..
The plot was, confusing.. The dad's dead, he isn't, he is, he isn't, he is,,,, on and on..
There's a pointless and confusing villain twist at the end..
The acting is so cringy, reminding me of disney child movies from years ago..
Pikachu won't stop talking, and kind of ruins a lot of what should be cute, tender, or serious moments.
There's way too much bathroom humor.
The 8-12 pokemon you see in the trailer are all that exist in the entire film.
It's not a detective film, at all. They ask a question, and within minutes to seconds the answer is shoved in our face.
The male & female lead characters have NO chemistry, yet they're shoved together as a couple for some reason..
The main protagonist doesn't undergo any kind of meaningful character arc. He starts out shy, defensive, and moody, and he stays that way. He's mad at his dad for prioritizing work, but it's revealed his dad has been asking him to come live with him for years! Maybe even a decade!
I'm sorry to say I didn't laugh at this film.. The kids in front of me liked the bathroom humor, but I was excited for the plot and world building, and these both fell flat. You'd be better off rewatching the First Pokemon Movie.
Oh, and there seems to be an underlying message that GMOs are evil? I'm personally not against people voicing an opinion on this, but it seems a bit like fear mongering to me..… Expand
2 of 6 users found this helpful24
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6
BrianMcCriticMay 11, 2019
As someone who knows little about the source material I will still say it was a pretty fun movie. Ryan Reynolds is the best part as he adds so much humor and heart to Pikachu. Overall a mid 6 a B-.
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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4
JeffB4125May 10, 2019
Funny to watch this film without much poke-knowledge, but I guess the fan base is so big it doesnt matter if the film is incoherent to everyone else? I love how when people like something their first instinct to "question" critics. EveryoneFunny to watch this film without much poke-knowledge, but I guess the fan base is so big it doesnt matter if the film is incoherent to everyone else? I love how when people like something their first instinct to "question" critics. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, critics included, and I for one agree with most of them. This whole enterprise of a film just felt too much like a corporate product, like story and character development were just aped from better movies and ultimately played second fiddle to Pokemon! Cuteness! PG Deadpool! These cinematic franchise attempts are dragging on me, after Endgame Im spent. Now Im just looking forward movies that are movies, not more, and in the unfortunate case of pikachu, not less… Expand
3 of 10 users found this helpful37
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6
DedusMay 11, 2019
This is clearly aimed at people who grew up with the tv-show rather than the games, so keep that in mind before you watch.

Good entertainment, sure, but the more you think about it the more apparent how terrible the writing was at someThis is clearly aimed at people who grew up with the tv-show rather than the games, so keep that in mind before you watch.

Good entertainment, sure, but the more you think about it the more apparent how terrible the writing was at some points. Pacing issues, unnatural character development, corny dialogue and a terrible finale plagues this movie, which for all those flaws yet still is worth a watch for any core Pokémon fan.… Expand
1 of 5 users found this helpful14
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6
RefreshmentMay 14, 2019
The movie is entertaining and fun! if you' re a Pokémon fan you'll see that its a new proposal in the pokemon world far away from the movies we were used to see. Although the pokémons are very well done and addapted to share the big screenThe movie is entertaining and fun! if you' re a Pokémon fan you'll see that its a new proposal in the pokemon world far away from the movies we were used to see. Although the pokémons are very well done and addapted to share the big screen with actors, i noticed that there's a clear lack of variety of them. It's obvious that a really worked script was not the inttention for this movie, but its still a bit simple...… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
noybMay 12, 2019
Riddled with plotholes, a boring story, and terrible acting from almost everyone but Reynolds and even Pikachu was poorly written and Reynolds had to carry the part. Justice Smith was not terrible but not good by a long shot. MeanwhileRiddled with plotholes, a boring story, and terrible acting from almost everyone but Reynolds and even Pikachu was poorly written and Reynolds had to carry the part. Justice Smith was not terrible but not good by a long shot. Meanwhile Kathryn Newton was definitively the worst of the bunch with acting on par with Lele Pons, if you can call that acting. The only good part of this movie is the pokemon, but they did not focus enough on them or put enough different pokemon into the movie. I was really looking forward to an amazing world-building live action Pokemon movie, but instead this was what I got. I cannot stress enough how well-done the pokemon were, the FX people and Reynolds carried this movie the entire way.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
vahnMay 25, 2019
First things first, I'm not a fan of Pokemon anymore and I've been stuck at gen 3 ever since then: I don't like pokemon, I don't care about pokemon, and I couldn't care less about pokemon on itself. The reason why I watched it it's because itFirst things first, I'm not a fan of Pokemon anymore and I've been stuck at gen 3 ever since then: I don't like pokemon, I don't care about pokemon, and I couldn't care less about pokemon on itself. The reason why I watched it it's because it tried to be something different, in a series of games and anime that is essentially the same - if not worse - and that never really innovated. This movie was a breath of fresh air and I was excited to see what was all about it, especially after playing the game which was REALLY good for an adventure game.

The movie is about a young boy named "nobody cares" who has to find his father "deadpool" while accompanied by "weebgirl" and a Pikachu, who's the movie real protagonist. Yeah I honestly don't remember any of the names of the main cast and for good reason: they're so bad and uninteresting that you could replace them with a cardboard figure and nobody would even notice the difference. The plot is about finding "nobody care"'s father and alongside they'll deal with Mewtwo, apparently from the region of Kanto - the first movie's region, if I'm right, making this is a sort of continuation...kinda? - and during this time they'll do some investigation, which brings one of the strongest points of the movie: it actually makes a good job at mixing real life with pokemon, much MUCH more than the original anime where it felt like we're invaders on an alien planet and I couldn't help but to say "wow this actually feels like a real pokemon world". Pokemon in the movie has a realistic look which tries to make them blend them but only works on some pokemon, like growlithes or aipoms, while others just feel out of place overall. Still, Kudos for the job done: I never really seen this kind of thing in any of the games or anime before (my sister plays them so I can see the "evolution" of pokemon) and I had no issue into believing that the world was our own just with pokemon in it. It really worked.

Too bad everything else sucks though.

So, story is all about finding the father of "nobody cares" and for doing that he'll find his father's pikachu, who can talk for some reasons - and I literally say for some reasons because it's never going to be explained - and later on they'll figure out that there's some conspiration and stuff, where they'll eventually find an area 51 kind of place and other stuff that nobody will care...seriously it's so badly explained I can't even remember half of it, it was so bad. Half of the plot is not explained, weebgirl literally pops out of nowhere and suddenly knows everything, nobody cares is such bad character that all he can do is whine and be confused, the bad guy is so OBVIOUS that I made a joke about him and I facepalmed so hard the cinema could hear my echo, and on top of that a lot of stuff is never explained and are just left behind.

On top of that the movie had a bad tendency to just be too kid friendly that it was disgustingly bad: a lot of "swearings" were teased, especially in my language, and there were even some scenes where "the blood" was basically removed by panning the camera over to not show the stuff. In fact, it was so badly done that I literally had no idea what happened, because in one scene Pikachu gets hit by a rock but it's not shown that he was actually wounded, so I just assumed he fainted.

Hey, hey you idiots, pokemon is a game/anime about monsters who fight with deadly gas, fire, psychic power, ice and more: I THINK some bruises or even some blood can be shown.

Bottom line, I really didn't like this movie: I was honestly curious about the detective Pikachu franchise because the game was pretty fun and Pikachu was a very fun character in the game - while the nobody cares of the game was just as bad if not even blander. Still, my point is that the movie is all about Pikachu and yes there were some funny parts, like the Mr. mime scene and even some chase scenes were okay. But that's the problem: it was OKAY, everything was just okay and I honestly blame the fact it tried to be too kid friendly, to avoid any violence so that the rating wouldn't be too high. I'm sorry but if you're trying to make an action movie for kids, make an action movie for kids like it should be and don't hold back.

As it is, this movie is just a mediocre adaptation overall: I only recommend it for the true fans of pokemon or if you have some kids who need some attention or you need to keep them at bay.

For everyone else...stick with the game this movie's based off. It's a whole lot better and it's much more fun to play.

PS: the main character's name is Tim Goodman, but do you honestly care that I told you?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
TyranianApr 26, 2020
Pokemon fans might be pleased with this film but others will be pretty bored.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
JoeCoolJun 12, 2019
Flimsy story, cringeworthy acting, no chemistry between the leads, no humor worth mentioning, nothing detective at all except for the hat. Maybe fun for 6 year olds or if you grew up with pokemon and are a really big fan, but otherwise notFlimsy story, cringeworthy acting, no chemistry between the leads, no humor worth mentioning, nothing detective at all except for the hat. Maybe fun for 6 year olds or if you grew up with pokemon and are a really big fan, but otherwise not worth watching at all. The whole movie is just ridiculous.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Squishy05May 26, 2019
Don't know if they were on a tight budget, but as someone that has placed every single video game since Blue and Red version back in the '90s, it was disappointing.. not a single pokemon gym or even a pokemon centre, which were central to theDon't know if they were on a tight budget, but as someone that has placed every single video game since Blue and Red version back in the '90s, it was disappointing.. not a single pokemon gym or even a pokemon centre, which were central to the video games and anime. I get the feeling that Ryme City's ideology of pokemon living outside of pokeballs and living equally as humans is backed by modern societal issues, but would rather not dive into that. Again regarding budget, could've focused more on the pokemon instead of the story, for instance, saw many Growliths in the background, but not one could ever get any screen time.. sigh… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Nobilis1984May 30, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Since it appeals more to the young moviegoers and who are not yet so closely scrutinizing the film is clear to me. But from my point of view, he's just mediocrity. Yes, the Pokemon rip out a lot. They are wonderfully animated and set to music. Only they should have played a bigger role. The human characters, except Reynolds, pull the film down. The story is just adapted to the children and therefore to be seen for me. "Evil is " Good "and the other way around. Part 2 will certainly come.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
SaintJames012May 24, 2019
This is a movie for children and those who were children when Pokemon first came to the U.S. The best aspects of the movie are Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu (he does an amazing job), and how cute they made the pokemon. Everything else is eitherThis is a movie for children and those who were children when Pokemon first came to the U.S. The best aspects of the movie are Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu (he does an amazing job), and how cute they made the pokemon. Everything else is either average or comically bad. Watch this movie for the pokemon or if your child wants to see it, but if you have not grown up with pokemon in your life, you will be completely bored.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
eagleeyevikingJun 28, 2019
While Ryan Reynolds is terrific as Pikachu and the CGI is wonderful, the film feels over-crowded and the characters are very bland.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
bfoore90May 13, 2019
Ryan Reynolds is fantastic as pikachu and the film is a wonder for kids with a bunch of cool Pokemon. The human characters are bland and unlikable, the villain is bland and by-the-book but the movie has alot going for it and the sequel willRyan Reynolds is fantastic as pikachu and the film is a wonder for kids with a bunch of cool Pokemon. The human characters are bland and unlikable, the villain is bland and by-the-book but the movie has alot going for it and the sequel will hopefully improve on that.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Voodoo123Aug 12, 2019
+Great pokemon easter eggs (not sure you can catch em all but there are loads!)
+Reminds me of who framed roger rabbit
-Lacklustre plot -Mixture of pacing and story issues take away from the fun -Lack of cheesy pokemon feels Pokemon films/tv+Great pokemon easter eggs (not sure you can catch em all but there are loads!)
+Reminds me of who framed roger rabbit
-Lacklustre plot
-Mixture of pacing and story issues take away from the fun
-Lack of cheesy pokemon feels

Pokemon films/tv show always lightened my mood with the cheesy feel good vibes that you either love or hate as a franchise fan. For me Pokemon detective pikachu doesn't strike this same core vibe and so felt flat overall. As a visual effects heavy movie, the live action actors performances clearly suffer as they attempt the 'looking around at things that arent there' bit that is required to make it all work. Overall I feel like this was a missed opportunity and as a fan of the original material would have much preffered to see a 'dragonball broly' style AAA animation instead (prob cost less as well!). Still good to see the franchise back on the big screen in spite of its weirder realistically hairy incarnation!… Expand
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4
Stampede60kkMay 17, 2019
Very bad movie that i tried to watch two twice. What the heck, this is even worst than Detective Pikachu game for 3ds. Script maybe not bad, but Director is f*ing crazy that the movie about pokemons is borring. Best part of movie is RyanVery bad movie that i tried to watch two twice. What the heck, this is even worst than Detective Pikachu game for 3ds. Script maybe not bad, but Director is f*ing crazy that the movie about pokemons is borring. Best part of movie is Ryan Reynolds and his jokes, actor Justice Smith not bad either.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
MikaBeeWallMay 11, 2019
On my first watch of this movie I thought it was pretty great. I thought all the jokes where funny, I thought everything was pretty well paced. But on my seconds watch, the jokes didn't get nearly as much of a reaction out of me, the specialOn my first watch of this movie I thought it was pretty great. I thought all the jokes where funny, I thought everything was pretty well paced. But on my seconds watch, the jokes didn't get nearly as much of a reaction out of me, the special effects looked a lot worse, and the characters where a lot harder, too like. But still this movie, was decently paced. It can be funny at times. And the two main characters have a good dynamic. It's still the best video game movie ever made.… Expand
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6
zacharyhasApr 19, 2022
Slightly above average, fairly fun and decent. But nothing that good overall.
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6
miccaelJul 18, 2019
main actor does not act good I think sadly. his "love story" seems forced in the end with no payoff. the part with detective Yoshida also kinda went nowhere (they never ackonledge thet did not find the body) and the reporter entrance was toomain actor does not act good I think sadly. his "love story" seems forced in the end with no payoff. the part with detective Yoshida also kinda went nowhere (they never ackonledge thet did not find the body) and the reporter entrance was too dramatic.some scenes needed more polish, like where the man in a taxi was looking at pika standing on his own hood and saying nothing.
Also, what's wrong with pokemon battles having weak, unsafe barriers, that's not how arenas work, not even underground ones.

movie is shot well and was fun. Was a bit too slow in the middle but worked.
bulbasaurs are the cutest, and of course when pickachu says pickachu. twist in the end, i was not expecting but kind of guessed that pickachu talking to him means something more.
pokemons are nicely CGI'd. no problems there. fun movie for 1 time… Expand
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5
JLuis_001May 16, 2019
An empty and shallow attempt to perpetuate this franchise that will undoubtedly continue for many years but this live-action adaptation doesn't offer anything new or interesting at all.

The mixture in my opinion doesn't work. You have toAn empty and shallow attempt to perpetuate this franchise that will undoubtedly continue for many years but this live-action adaptation doesn't offer anything new or interesting at all.

The mixture in my opinion doesn't work. You have to admit when things are like that.
I do think it will have a sequel and if so, they need a better script and better characters. Not always the chaos of visual effects everywhere means narrative quality.

Definitely for kids and maybe Pokemon fans but for the rest I don't think so.

And as an extra I must say that Ryan Reynolds doesn't give much personality to Pikachu and it's not like the character had much in the first place.… Expand
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6
CoreGamer1408Jul 7, 2020
No real interest in Pokemon and this movie isn't going to chance that. Beyond the cuteish Pikachu the rest of Pokemon are nightmarish looking creatures. The wife said this reminded her of the Gremlins movie and not the cute parts. Yeah theNo real interest in Pokemon and this movie isn't going to chance that. Beyond the cuteish Pikachu the rest of Pokemon are nightmarish looking creatures. The wife said this reminded her of the Gremlins movie and not the cute parts. Yeah the Pokemen were disturbingly freaky looking. Story, characters and plot came across like any generic kids cartoon world I suppose? One of the kids, kids who watched it with us seemed to like it. It was ok a bit weird and a bit freaky for the grown ups.… Expand
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6
kirkenderFeb 24, 2020
It's a pokemon movie. There's plenty of pokemon in it. Ryan Reynolds is pikachu, who is a pokemon. Bill Nighy is in it as a villain and has to say a bunch of pokemon correctly. The Mr. Mime sequence was excellent.
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4
amheretojudgeMay 15, 2019
Reynolds is tapping to his own beat, peel him off from the project and he is giving you his tight twenty minutes on stage.

Pokemon Detective Pikachu Letterman works like a teenager. Or maybe because of the film's theme, he has adaptedReynolds is tapping to his own beat, peel him off from the project and he is giving you his tight twenty minutes on stage.

Pokemon Detective Pikachu

Letterman works like a teenager. Or maybe because of the film's theme, he has adapted himself into those avid video game players. But we will get into Rob Letterman's, the director, work later, first let's put the banners in trial. What is with this weird urge to magnify the gaming world into magnanimous IMAX screen? Failing perpetually and miserably on justifying the course of this virtual world into a throbbing storytelling arcs, even someone so skillful as Steven Spielberg could only barely reach there with his hands. And then to expect us to chug up all the pretentious dose of visual effects while compromising ourselves to understand the narration that THEY are trying to say.

And yet, they come in and say, every time, that this project is the game changer. Does the film contradict all your opinions on the adaptations of video games? No. It does not. Particularly, individually, the film is exactly like the vfx, fluffy and cute when the lens looks at our lead, and incredibly fake while focusing on others. And the term "entertainment" that they put so much weight on, is not their gripping or innovative storyline, but the incredibly self-claimed blabbermouth whose version of improv is the only reliable rope to hang on to.

From start to finish, all you want is to see Ryan Reynolds come up with some bizarre reference or hilarious comment to lighten up the dull scene. Justice Smith in the lead is confused, in a good way, but emotionally distant, in a bad way. Another major crisis is the effortfully choreographed action sequence where the whole world collapses and they are told to run the montage sequence of vfx explosion carrying the film for that section and then they dare promote Pikachu to Pokemon Detective Pikachu with no brains involved on investigation.… Expand
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6
XV_May 19, 2019
As far as videogame adaptations go I think Detective Pikachu is on a better track than all of the others, my problem is that it depends a lot on Ryan Reynolds and the Pokemon lore and it kind of drags by the end of the movie when it's runningAs far as videogame adaptations go I think Detective Pikachu is on a better track than all of the others, my problem is that it depends a lot on Ryan Reynolds and the Pokemon lore and it kind of drags by the end of the movie when it's running out of steam. Overall is, for the most part, an entertaining movie, if not for its main character that is uncharismatic as they come and a predictable plot this will be a more fun experience.… Expand
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6
NoahboyJul 13, 2019
Detective Pikachu (2019): This movie is very average, but most people who are familiar with Pokemon will probably like it. The world-building in this film is great, and you can actually believe that this setting is real. Another aspect of theDetective Pikachu (2019): This movie is very average, but most people who are familiar with Pokemon will probably like it. The world-building in this film is great, and you can actually believe that this setting is real. Another aspect of the film that helps with the immersion is the fantastic CGI, and the great character design. The way the light interacts with the hairs on Pikachu is probably the best I've ever seen. But, other than Ryan Reynolds's amusing voice performance, the acting is horrible, namely Katherine Newton's performance, and it takes you right out of the movie. The plot is also very standard and has been done a million times before, and the movie overall is very predictable, and the twist was pretty dumb. Video game movies have a long way to go, but I can say this is the first one that I've seen that didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth.… Expand
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6
Shajac19Jun 1, 2019
A fun movie even for non-Pokemon fans. This movie is highly entertaining if not the best-written masterpiece. As someone who is aware of Pokemon and can recognize a fair few of them, this movie was still far better than I expected it to be.A fun movie even for non-Pokemon fans. This movie is highly entertaining if not the best-written masterpiece. As someone who is aware of Pokemon and can recognize a fair few of them, this movie was still far better than I expected it to be. Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith work better together than I would've thought and the movie held my attention to the end with a fun plot and some good jokes. Overall, a very good movie.… Expand
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6
ArtmalMay 26, 2019
I'm not a fan of the franchise(didn't even see original Pokémon), but people on reddit introduced new Pikachi memes so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and go to the cinema to watch the movie. Pokemons were cute, I really liked theI'm not a fan of the franchise(didn't even see original Pokémon), but people on reddit introduced new Pikachi memes so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and go to the cinema to watch the movie. Pokemons were cute, I really liked the animation work. The plot was somewhat disappointing(there is no clear narration of the story, everything seems illogical when you see it). Acting is also not very good sometimes. You also will see blatant bloopers(ridiculous object scaling, time travels). By the end of the day, it's funny movie to watch with family/friends but I wish the movie had less bloopers and more clearer story narration.… Expand
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6
SeppsMay 15, 2019
Visually great, though somewhat lacking in the plot department. This is a film in which a "twist" is pretty much just anything that hasn't been said out loud yet, even if the audience figured it out a little over an hour ago. That being said,Visually great, though somewhat lacking in the plot department. This is a film in which a "twist" is pretty much just anything that hasn't been said out loud yet, even if the audience figured it out a little over an hour ago. That being said, it's still beautiful, creative with its world design and surprisingly funny. Nitpickers will have no shortage of threads to pull on, but if you just want to enjoy a good comedy with some really gorgeous animation this is a solid pick.… Expand
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4
AuronnBEMay 29, 2019
Visually the movie is stunning, Ryan Reynolds also does a good job voicing Pikachu but the overall acting performances are not good at all. It already starts with the opening scene which immediately had me doubting if this could become anyVisually the movie is stunning, Ryan Reynolds also does a good job voicing Pikachu but the overall acting performances are not good at all. It already starts with the opening scene which immediately had me doubting if this could become any good further on. The story is pretty thin and we jump from one location to the other to show off some new Pokémon they could show off.

What ruins the whole film is the ultimate twist in the story. It was so un-Pokémon-like I gave up hope right there. Even visually giving it a thumbs down at that point tbh.… Expand
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5
KlebartJun 21, 2019
I mean it's a Pokemon movie. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but it's forgettable.
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4
kyrya833Jun 27, 2019
Very boring movie, it is only good quality graphics, but isn 2019 it is a reason to go to the movie?
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4
Sean_The_CriticJul 6, 2019
Two. Thats how many aspects of this movie i liked, the rest is terrible and at some points completely unbearable to sit through. The only two good things i found in this movie were the incredible animation, which really brought not only theTwo. Thats how many aspects of this movie i liked, the rest is terrible and at some points completely unbearable to sit through. The only two good things i found in this movie were the incredible animation, which really brought not only the pokémon look alive but the entire scenes. Some of the m were a bit ugly and creepy, but it matches most of their character traits so I actually like that. The only other thing I like was the inclusion of Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu, and the casting of Justice Smith (as Tim), cause they did a amazing job at portraying their characters. The rest of the movie however, disappoints, as the story is empty and bland compared to what we had hoped for. The ending is supposed to be disappointing, as the Pikachu character seems to hopefully prevent any sequels or future additions to this new "franchise".… Expand
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6
fsdgfdAug 19, 2019
Extremely witty and funny Ryan Reynolds does an excellent job playing Pikachu. The rest of the cast... not so much. Other than that the movie is passable with a decent plot.
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6
Bugalugs213Aug 29, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's ok, has some good cameos from the pokemon but by the half way mark I just wanted it to end. Hair brained plot and an awkward voice for Pikachu made it a chore to sit through.… Expand
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5
Bagoli_roliAug 31, 2019
So I went into this fully not knowing it was a kids movie. From trailers and listening to the hype I thought it was going to be a literal deadpool mixed with pokemon. It's not that bad for a modern kids movie but be warned its not thatSo I went into this fully not knowing it was a kids movie. From trailers and listening to the hype I thought it was going to be a literal deadpool mixed with pokemon. It's not that bad for a modern kids movie but be warned its not that enjoyable for anyone older.… Expand
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4
AlienboerSep 8, 2019
Nothing special here. The movie should have rather been a cartoon than this bad acting and excuse for r actors
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6
ajzeg01Sep 15, 2019
This movie was pretty stupid, but I didn’t have a bad time watching it. I’m going to say right away that this is not a very good movie. It’s not well written or well acted, the cinematography and action weren’t anything special, most of theThis movie was pretty stupid, but I didn’t have a bad time watching it. I’m going to say right away that this is not a very good movie. It’s not well written or well acted, the cinematography and action weren’t anything special, most of the comedy fell pretty flat and the story just doesn’t make a lot of sense. However, this movie is awesome and worth seeing because of one thing: the Pokémon. There are Pokémon everywhere in this movie and they are delightful! They’re really well animated and you get a good variety of Pokémon from every generation. Every scene is jam-packed with detail and easter eggs. Chances are you’ll see your favourite Pokémon somewhere in this movie, no matter which generation you grew up with. Overall, this movie is okay. I’d recommend it only if you are a fan of Pokémon, even if you are just a casual fan or haven’t really been into it for a long time like me. If you like Pokémon, you’ll like this. If you aren’t a Pokémon fan, however, I have a feeling that this movie will just bore and confuse you. It does not explain anything about what a Pokémon is or how this world works. It just assumes that you already know coming in, which could be an issue for some. Instead, watch Zootopia, a much better movie with a similar story, universe and character dynamics. Well, we did it everyone! We finally got an okay video game movie! Now we just need a good one! It’ll get made someday, I know it!… Expand
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5
TheGreatNeithOct 8, 2019
It’s not bad. It’s not particularly good either, and it’s highly forgettable.
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6
SoyHenryVNov 24, 2019
Esta es la película basada en un videojuego más decente y divertida que he visto. El equipo detrás de la película de Sonic debería de tomar cartas en el asunto y aprender de los aciertos de esta cinta.
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6
FilmanwaltDec 17, 2020
Trivial but okay. The film does not have a great or intoxicating Pokemon story but scores with a sometimes very nice look and nice gadgets and fan service away from the main event.

In my opinion, the film should have focused more on the cityTrivial but okay. The film does not have a great or intoxicating Pokemon story but scores with a sometimes very nice look and nice gadgets and fan service away from the main event.

In my opinion, the film should have focused more on the city and everything that happens in it, because there was a lot to discover that was much more exciting than the actual detective story.… Expand
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5
Billy1764Feb 18, 2020
While I do respect the movie for staying true to it's source, it's more of a compensation for the lack of humor and entertainment the film provides. It's bland and boring, and it feels as if the movie relied too much on the animation. TheWhile I do respect the movie for staying true to it's source, it's more of a compensation for the lack of humor and entertainment the film provides. It's bland and boring, and it feels as if the movie relied too much on the animation. The obvious source for humor is supposed to be the casting choice of Ryan Renolds, but not only is it distracting, it's not funny either. Overall, while it's definitely a lot better than other video game movies, it's still not a very good movie.… Expand
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4
WhisperingGhostFeb 24, 2020
Straight money grab. They will continue making mediocre movies like this because people will keep paying to see their favorite video game characters on the big screen regardless of how crappy the movie actually is. (I’m guilty also.) All IStraight money grab. They will continue making mediocre movies like this because people will keep paying to see their favorite video game characters on the big screen regardless of how crappy the movie actually is. (I’m guilty also.) All I can say is that the character models of the Pokemon were cool. Could have been an awesome film. Oh well..… Expand
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4
wayrezMay 16, 2020
Detective Pikachu is not quite able to create a coherent story from his confusing mythology, and the weak detective part makes his wink to noir detectives inappropriate. But it is unlikely to scare away Pokemon fans and children who came toDetective Pikachu is not quite able to create a coherent story from his confusing mythology, and the weak detective part makes his wink to noir detectives inappropriate. But it is unlikely to scare away Pokemon fans and children who came to see Rime City with familiar pocket animals.… Expand
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6
INU4SH4Jul 4, 2020
As a fan of Pokemon (not a huge one though), I enjoyed this movie. It was a fun watch, for the most part, thanks to its pretty good CGI and decent action scenes. My main issue with the movie was its story. It was definitely the movie'sAs a fan of Pokemon (not a huge one though), I enjoyed this movie. It was a fun watch, for the most part, thanks to its pretty good CGI and decent action scenes. My main issue with the movie was its story. It was definitely the movie's weakest point but did not kill the enjoyment.

It's a decent movie to watch if you enjoy Pokemon, so long as you don't get your hopes too high.… Expand
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6
Toasty87Jul 18, 2020
It's good but the plot and script is questionable plus the SJW vibes disturbs me.
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5
DarkwingSchmuckJul 9, 2023
Detective Pikachu is surprisingly not awful. It's not particularly good, but it's not awful. Its two young leads are very well cast, Ryan Reynolds is funny, it has some heart, and there's even a charming little twist that ties the whole thingDetective Pikachu is surprisingly not awful. It's not particularly good, but it's not awful. Its two young leads are very well cast, Ryan Reynolds is funny, it has some heart, and there's even a charming little twist that ties the whole thing together. I also really liked the kid-friendly Blade Runner look to the city. Unfortunately, next to nothing was done with its "detective" theme. Instead of aping Who Framed Roger Rabbit, they tried to force Marvel levels of action into a story that didn't warrant it.… Expand
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6
DolphinReviewsJul 20, 2022
It's a weird choice for the first live action Pokémon film but it does a good job adapting the Detective Pikachu 3ds game. Would be a lot better of a movie if some of the human acting was better and if it didn't have the awful twist ending.
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6
NRG_MHJun 28, 2023
It's a decent movie even if you haven't played the game it's based on. The CGI is so good that it makes me feel like Ryme City is an actual place in the world that you can visit, the plot was a bit basic but it was still a decent plot noneIt's a decent movie even if you haven't played the game it's based on. The CGI is so good that it makes me feel like Ryme City is an actual place in the world that you can visit, the plot was a bit basic but it was still a decent plot none the less, the characters felt like they all had a purpose in the movie in one way or another and to top it all off this movie started what I like to call the Video Game adaptation renaissance! (basically when game movies and shows started getting actually good). I'd totally reccomend this film to anyone who is/was a Pokemon fan (even if I only gave it a 6).… Expand
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