A man wakes up in a strange city with no memory of who he is. His only companion is a talking Pikachu, and the two must solve a mystery involving vanished Pokémon. That setup sounds like a winner. It isn’t.
Trailer, via Warner Bros..
The Setup
The film opens with a detective named Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) finding himself in Ryme City, a human-Pokémon metropolis. He has no idea why he’s there. His only clue is a Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) who can talk and doesn’t know who Tim is either. Together they investigate the disappearance of a child, which leads them into a conspiracy involving Team Rocket.
What Works
Ryan Reynolds carries the film. His Pikachu is funny, sarcastic, and genuinely caring. The chemistry between Tim and Pikachu is the reason anyone watches past the opening credits. Justice Smith plays Tim as a nervous, unassuming foil, and the two bounce off each other well.
What Doesn’t Work
The plot is thin. The mystery is solved through convenience rather than deduction. Characters explain things they shouldn’t need to explain. The villain, a member of Team Rocket, is underdeveloped and barely threatening. The film leans on spectacle — giant Pokémon battles, neon streets, a talking cat — to cover for a story that doesn’t earn its runtime.
Technical Notes
The animation is competent. Pokémon look expressive and detailed, and the city is rendered with care. The action sequences are energetic but forgettable. The score is pleasant but indistinct, blending orchestral cues with electronic beats without ever becoming memorable.
Pokémon Fans May Be Disappointed
Pokémon fans hoping for a deep dive into their favorite creatures will find little here beyond a few cameos. The film treats the franchise as a setting rather than a world to explore. There’s no lore, no history, no depth. It’s a cash grab dressed up as a family film.
Final Verdict
Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a pleasant, occasionally clever film that never reaches its full potential. It’s fun for an hour or so, then it drags. The cast does solid work with weak material, and the premise is better than the execution.
- Ryan Reynolds delivers the best performance in the film
- Justice Smith provides a grounded center
- The animation is polished
- The story is thin and repetitive
- The villain lacks menace
The film earns a 6.9 out of 10.
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