OVERALL RATING:
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. I’m not at all a fan of Pokemon, in any shape or form. When that viral game swept the nation a few years ago and people everywhere were going nuts trying to catch Pokemon, I sat on the sidelined – confused. It’s not that I didn’t want to play or thought I was too cool to download the app, I just didn’t know what the hell as going on. As for the Pokemon cartoons that came out, I didn’t follow that either.
So I came into this movie – a Pokemon Virgin – and still enjoyed it.
GRADE: A
DIRECTION AND ACTING
Movies that incorporate any form of CGI, which is mostly all of them, require a level of direction never seen before in the film industry. Not only must a director know how to work with actors, but they also must know how to communicate with a mega-load of computer graphic animators who burn the midnight oil, making fake characters come to life.
Throw live action actors into the equation, on a set that doesn’t exist, and voices that will be added in post, with characters that are not there and only exist in people dressed in green suits – well – haha – well – Now you’re talking about a creative team who really must trust in a director that knows his stuff.
Pokemon has a lot of interactive CGI that is meshed together seamlessly. The Director communicated his vision well and the actors played their parts so convincingly, there was no questioning the authenticity of the fictional world they created.
Ryan Reynolds did a great job at playing Pikachu. It’s kinda funny, though, because Ryan Reynold’s sarcasm shines through. He’s Deadpool. He can’t help it. His humor is unique and just happens to match an antihero. And he brings that humor, that Ryan Reynold’s humor, through Pikachu. I’m not sure if he’s improving or not, but Deadpool – I mean Ryan Reynold’s humor is very apparent, and it’s a joy.
GRADE: A
SCRIPT AND CHARACTERS
This movie was written well without any plot holes that I could see. I think if you dig deep enough, you can probably find one (like every script). Everything from science to character motivation was well accounted for. It’s nothing like Avenger’s Endgame, which has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.
The characters were rather dimensional enough to drive the story forward.
Let’s talk Enneagram for a second here.
Tim Goodman, was the son who suffered from abandonment from his father leaving him. He had major trust issues. He didn’t have confidence in anyone, from his friends to a Pokemon. On the Enneagram, this would be considered a “Type Six Unhealthy Loyalist.”
Pikachu was the same type of personality type, just a Healthy Six. Loyal to a fault, first seeking out his lost partner, and then staying loyal to his partner’s son no matter what the cost. Healthy Loyalists tend to seek out groups, partner, or a rescuer. They are also the type of personalities that are natural born sidekicks.
Before the third act, Pikachu gets triggered, fears that he would only bring harm against Tim, then goes full throttle counterphobic (destroying what he fears), and throws his partnership with Tim into the dumpster. By the way, this is a typical reaction of a triggered Type Six Loyalist. When they are “stirred up,” they often suddenly end relationships out of fear. When the little furry guy gets his bearings, he goes back to be the loyal sidekick and helps save the day.
The characters were not deep enough to motivate the audience to find their inner Pikachu, but deep enough to pull at your heartstrings at the right moments.
GRADE: A
Pikachu is also a great example of how lost professional movie critics have become. 83% of regular people, like us, loved it. Only 66% of dimwits who make a career out of watching movies, enjoyed it. Did you know that 91% of all movie critics loved “The Last Jedi” while only 44% of the fans agreed that it was great?
They are more often wrong than right. How the hell do they keep their jobs?
Steve Young
