Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
Cast: Justice Smith, Ryan Reynolds, Kathryn Newton, Bill Nighy, Ken Watanbe, Chris Geere, Suki Waterhouse, Josette Simon, Alejandro De Mesa, Rita Ora, Karen Soni, Max Fincham, Simone Ashley, Edward Davis, Diplo, Omar Chaparro, Ben Fox, Kadiff Kirwan, Ryoma Takeeuchi, Rino Hoshino, Kotaro Watanabe, Ikue Otani.
Every pop culture phenomenon will eventually find its way to the big screen, as sure as the sun will rise, so eventually a team of creatives will meet with a series of money men and hammer out a story that appeals to the fan base and which will suck new life into the smoking corporate machine.
Under the banner of enterprise do such films come to the surface, and the result could go either way, the original versions of Captain America and Thor to name but two, but others just as easily manipulated to take that extra buck and a half from the public, because how can you call yourself a fan of anything if you haven’t bought in to the trend that it offers.
It is with that in mind that the inevitability of a studio delivering a live action film about one of the biggest movements in the last thirty years, is surely the surreal Japanese cartoon Pokemon and whilst it is a piece of cinematic art that does stand out on its own as undoubtedly as a good action comedy adventure, it nevertheless still manages to add to the empire and give further demand for excess; a conundrum of enjoyment wrapped up in the knowing of feeding a machine.
Detective Pikachu benefits greatly from the relationship between Ryan Reynolds and Justice Smith, the class of both actors shining in their delivery, and giving the film that extra demanding spark, which elevates such a premise to a different level. The realisation that the film actually hangs upon the triangle of the aforementioned actors and the imagination that brings every Pokemon character to life is one that any viewer can get behind, the only issue is just how far you allow the trend to take over your life, because seeing a Pikachu on screen in all its glory will somehow take you down a rabbit hole of admiration that you might not be ready, or willing, to engage with.
An enjoyable film concentrating on acceptance, forgiveness and loyalty, Detective Pikachu has a lot more going for it than might be first understood, colourful, entertaining but with that measure of self-congratulation which threatens its sincerity waiting to be pulled from underneath its feet. Another way to feed a trend or good family fun, it is only your conscious which will guide you to the answer you seek.
Ian D. Hall