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Pokemon Detective Pikachu will return this evening on TFX. A film to (re)watch with the family, while waiting for news of its sequel, which, despite the good reception of the original in 2019, is struggling to come to fruition. Rob Letterman (Shark Gang and of Monsters vs. Aliens), was unable to complete, too absorbed in making the Goosebumps series for Disney+. He left his place to Jonathan Krisel, in March 2023, but since that date… no more news.
Too bad, because at Firstwe had a good time watching this film, much smarter than its lucrative concept of declining the very popular Pokemon in the cinema, in live action. Here is our review.
Obviously. At a time when franchises reign in Hollywood, where studios have fun launching films as soon as an app is a hit or a cartoon eats away at children's heads, this one was bound to happen: Pikachu arrives in a feature-length cinema film. So we might as well immediately reassure those who are worried. You don't need to have a drawer full of poké balls or even have seen the previous 22 (TWENTY-TWO!) Pokemon movies to enjoy this funny black comedy hosted by Ryan Reynolds.
Detective Pikachu: the dark and distant origins of the final twist
Spoiler alert: we have associated Detective Pikachu with the words “fun” and “black comedy” and Ryan Reynolds.
Directed by Rob Letterman, the filmmaker of Shark gang and of Goosebumps, Pokemon Detective Pikachu is based on the video game of the same name and tells how the most famous yellow teddy bear in the world (here voiced by Ryan Reynolds) teams up with young Tom Goodman (Justice Smith) and goes to investigate the disappearance of the kid's father. Their quest unfolds in the mysteries of Ryme City, a city where men and Pokemon live side by side in harmonious incomprehension and takes them on the trail of a strange evil plot. Spielberg is not far away (the absent dad, the Amblin feeling of mixing genres), Blade Runner either (the neo-noir atmosphere is quite successful) and the film works both as a good buddy movie and as a totally unbridled SF comedy. Viewers familiar with the Pokemon universe will be in heaven: from the appearance of Cubone to the settings of Ryme City, including the goofy gesticulations of Ludicolo or the tongue-tugging of Lickitung… the fan service is correctly done. For others: imagine a projection of Roger Rabbit on acid or after taking a little too much supergrass and you will understand.
If we wanted to play film critics, we might regret that the last part gets back on track and loses a little of its innocent charm. Because that’s basically the trump card of this Pokemon film. Until the final parade, PDPunlike most of the licensing products that Hollywood produces in a hurry, manages to ignore all cynicism and turns out to be authentically funny and pleasant, improbable even, multiplying nostalgic winks and seeming to be astonished at the miracle in progress to happen.
The trailer for Pokémon, Detective Pikachu:
Pokémon in the flesh: a live action series is preparing for Netflix