Pokémon: Detective Pikachu

The best movie adaptation of a video game ever made. Pokémon Detective Pikachu is really enjoyable and fun to watch. Ryan Reynolds is easily the best thing in the whole movie, also the creature designs were pretty amazing and adorable. On the flip side Justice Smith performance as the films primary lead was totally lame, uninteresting, boring and annoying all at the same time, he literally drags on the whole film with his bad performance. Rest of the cast was average at best. This would have been a great movie if the casting was done right. The plot is terrible and the film doesn't have the emotional weight it needed. Otherwise, the visuals and humour is great.

And that's exactly why I enjoyed it but not loved it. It's not really the movie's fault, I just wasn't excited about seeing the Pokemons on screen. Pikachu it's super funny to watch and the voice acting is good. The actors do their part well, even though the characters aren't great in my opinion, it does the job for an adventure like this. The CGI is not bad, but the characters designs are heavily based in the anime and for some of them it works well, but for some others it doesn't. There's no re-design for any of the Pokemons, which I'm sure fans will love, but when you're watching a live action movie, textures need to resemble something real (even if it's a fantasy monster) for the eye to believe in it. With Pikachu it works well because it's hairy, but I really disliked Mewtwo look, even if he looks exactly like in the anime. Anyways, it was fun to watch, and the city's design and atmosphere was really cool. Pretty sure fans will love it. I would have given more if the nostalgia factor was on me, but as it's not the case, I only felt it's good and fun.

I've loved Pokémon my whole life and this was the most excited about Pokemon developments since Pokemon go. Whilst there is nothing to hate about the film I couldn't describe it as more than reasonably good and mildly enjoyable where as I was hoping to be blown away throughout. Having said that I'm excited to see where the franchise goes movie wise in the future as it certainly has potential.

It's very rare that I ever watch kid's movies any more. I couldn't even tell you what the last one I saw before this was. But 'Pokémon Detective Pikachu' just really interested me for some reason. I'm not even much of a 'Pokémon' fan (I watched it briefly as a kid, but that was about it). I think it was the casting choice of Ryan Reynolds as 'Pikachu' that took my fancy. A really enlightened choice. He has the comedic skills to make anything funny, and ultimately that is the strongest thing this movie has going for it.

I also loved the concept of the story being based around a mystery. I'm a sucker for mysteries in films. Unfortunately the one they chose for this movie didn't really work for me. It just never hooked me in. I didn't absolutely need to know the answer, and that is always the key to a mystery element working in a story.

The other thing that impressed me was how good the animation was. The 'Pokémon' looked absolutely fantastic. I think this is a great movie in the sense that kids are going to have a great time with it, but also the adults that take them along are going to enjoy it more than they might other children's movies. A worthy effort.

I am not saying the movie is great. Far from it. Its full of flaws. But its fun and nostalgic.

I watched it at a moment when I was sad and terrified and alone. I put it on and felt better at then end. That's it. It did its job. And sometimes that's enough.