Pokémon Detective Pikachu Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

3. It Nails The Live-Action Pokémon

Detective Pikachu Psyduck
Warner Bros.

Pikachu may be the film's feature attraction, but director Rob Letterman also does a remarkable job showcasing literally dozens of other Pokémon.

Realising the iconic creatures in the live-action realm was unquestionably the film's biggest challenge, yet thanks to exemplary VFX, every single Pokémon in the movie looks tactile and "real" enough.

Aside from Pikachu himself, the easy highlight is Lucy's Psyduck, who naturally spends the entire movie as a perennially nervous wreck, to say nothing of those giant, intensely creepy bug-eyes.

Given that the wrong aesthetic approach could've totally derailed the movie, Letterman and his team did fine work making them tangible without sacrificing the charm of their original designs.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.