Pokémon: Detective Pikachu

Revolution. Evolution. Changing the formula. Preconceived expectations.

When is the right time to ‘update’ an existing franchise? In most cases you’d be rebuffed by fan revulsion. In the case of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu it might just be a masterstroke.

Bringing the animated ‘Pocket Monsters’ into the real world works surprisingly well. The realism suits most of the animal-esque Pokémon (yes, they’ve made Pikachu even more cute) but does jar slightly with those with less real world parallels (Mewtwo looks slightly off.)

Rather than following the classic Indigo League story we start afresh with new character Tim (played brilliantly by Justice Smith in what could be a star-making first lead role) who is brought to Ryme City after the disappearance of his estranged father. There, he meets up with the titular electric mouse who, for reasons I won’t spoil, only he can understand.

Here’s the USP: Ryan Reynolds' ‘family-friendly-Deadpool’ turn as Pikachu, a ‘so wrong it’s right’ move that brings hilarity to every scene. Quipping away, but crucially never annoying, it enhances Reynolds’ comedy reputation.

It’s a tremendously fun film, short and brisk with plot holes galore but the story just about holds together enough for you to enjoy this world and the references. It’s a little farfetched (pun intended) but works well enough for a film of this type.

It’s safe to say most of the audience will be affiliated with the franchise in some way, and are most likely current or former childhood fans. This has clearly been recognised by the producers and there’s so much to enjoy from the subtle (a Jigglypuff karaoke performance sending the patrons to sleep) to the more plot-centric (a gut-achingly funny interrogation scene with a Mr Mime.) It’ll tickle the nostalgia senses (wait to see what greets you at the start of the credits) whilst also offering more past the Gen 1 generation.

It’s a barrel of laughs which enhances, rather than tarnishes, the legacy and feels like absolutely the right way for the franchise to go. It even throws in some fairly surprising plot twists and even an ending that doesn’t scream sequel which is a breath of fresh air.

It pays due diligence to the animation whilst taking things in an entirely new direction. Sure, there are some missteps: the aforementioned plot falls apart as soon as you start thinking too much into it and the constant exposition and sign posting is grating. They also massively missed a trick by using ‘R gas’ as the plot’s main MacGuffin and not having this link to a Team Rocket-esque organisation in some way.

I must also ask opinions on ‘tie-in songs’ which never feature in the film itself (except for the credits) but are somehow linked to the movie. Of course, there are good examples (Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther soundtrack, Lorde’s Hunger Games soundtrack, Father John Misty’s Hotel Artemis credits song to name just three) but there also plenty of bad (Eminem’s Venom tie-in anyone?) Here we have Rita Ora over the rolling credits (in a Pokémon movie?!) and also, inexplicably, she even appears as a speaking part in the film itself alongside Diplo who doesn’t even feature in the song. Culture gone mad?

Luckily, it doesn’t affect the finished article and we’re left with a cracking family film which will keep the little and big ‘uns smiling throughout. You never knew you needed Ryan Reynolds singing the original Pokémon theme tune as a crying Pikachu in your life. A delightful little surprise.

4 stars ****