Legendary Entertainment With each new trailer for Detective Pikachu, I become more and more convinced that this could just be the video game movie that we can actually say is genuinely good without it being a lie.
That hasn’t stopped me from dreading the day I go to see it, of course. It could still be utter rubbish, for all I know.
Thankfully, certain lucky members of the press were treated to an early screening of the live-action Pokemon in Tokyo, and initial spoiler free reactions are beginning to trickle onto social media. I’m happy to report that they’re all entirely positive.
Wow, Detective Pikachu is easily the best video game movie ever made and a real delight for anyone who grew up with early Pokémon. Who ever thought Ryan Reynolds in a furry ball of cuteness can carry a movie deserves a raise. @DetPikachu
— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) April 24, 2019
To be clear, these early verdicts aren’t official reviews by any means. They’re more the first responses of people who just walked out of a screening, so it is worth noting that these reactions tend to be a little more positive than in-depth critiques.
With that said, it sounds like there’s a lot to love about Detective Pikachu. IGN‘s Terri Schwartz, for example, said that it “nailed” the world of Pokemon. Meanwhile, Comicbook.com’s Megan Peters branded the flick a “must-see.”
Den of Geek’s David Crow has claimed it’s the best video game movie ever made, which isn’t really the highest of praise when you consider the competition… but it’s still nice to hear.
If you’re worried about taking non-Pokemon loving friends or family to see Detective Pikachu, JoBlo’s Paul Shirley said that the film was perfect for fans and non-fans alike, while also praising the world building and anticipating “one hell of a franchise.”
Take a look at a smattering of reactions below.
Had a fun time with Detective Pikachu. Silly, heartfelt and chock full of Pokémon, which makes for some great world building in what is sure to spin off into one hell of a franchise. Perfectly suited for fans and non-fans alike. #DetectivePikachu @DetPikachuMovie @joblocom
— Paul Shirey (@arcticninjapaul) April 24, 2019
#DetectivePikachu also does a perfect job of balancing moments for the 20 year fans of #Pokémon to gush over without leaving new fans behind!
— Ian de Borja (@iandeborja_) April 24, 2019
What helps @DetPikachu is that it’s filled with ‘90s kid nostalgia for millennials, but even those who don’t know Pokémon (and I jumped off after first gen in 2000) will be won over by an undeniable truth Kathryn Newton states in the film: All Pokémon are cute. Even in shady noir
— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) April 24, 2019
I just got out of #DetectivePikachu and my first thought is OMG HOW DID THEY MAKE PIKACHU SO CUTE!!! It completely nails the world of Pokémon, and just seeing their amazing live action creature designs is worth the price of admission. If you love Pokémon, you’ll love this movie. pic.twitter.com/Z7oS42JlDd
— Terri Schwartz (@Terri_Schwartz) April 24, 2019
Detective Pikachu is coming to UK cinemas on May 10, and after looking through these reactions I’m more convinced than ever that I’m going to have a shockingly good time with this film.
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Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.