It certainly seems odd that Pokémon’s live-action Hollywood debut is based on a spin-off rather than the main games it’s more known for. Then again, as history has shown us numerous times, Hollywood’s movie adaptations of video game properties have not lived up to expectations. So I can only imagine pitching a movie as Who Framed Roger Rabbit but with Pokémon is an easier sell to studio executives. After all, who doesn’t want to capitalize on the massive pop culture footprint of the franchise? That’s not how it probably went down in the pitch meeting. Nonetheless, we finally have a live-action Pokémon movie called Pokémon Detective Pikachu, It may sound as a recipe for a flop, but somehow it works, and most importantly, it’s fun.

As the title suggests, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a detective/neo-noir mystery film at its core, with elements of sci-fi and adventure thrown into the mix, so don’t expect a traditional Pokemon adventure with battles and gyms. Ryme City, the film’s setting, is a metropolitan utopia where humans and Pokemon can live in harmony, as explained by the benevolent media tycoon Howard Clifford (Bill Nighy). That means Pokémon are seen as equals, doing the same jobs and tasks as humans: bartender, traffic enforcer, police partners, etc. Our hero, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith), sets out to Ryme City after his detective father dies in a car crash. While there, he runs into a Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) that can somehow communicate with him – unlike other Pokémon who can only say their own name or make cute noises – and only him. “It’s destiny,” Pikachu says. They both discover evidence that the death of Tim’s father may be staged, resulting in an unlikely partnership to solve the conspiracy. Along the way, they are joined by Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), a journalist intern trying to make a name for herself by uncovering the truth about daddy Goodman’s death.

For the most part, our heroes give out good performances, especially for interacting with creatures that aren’t actually there. Justice Smith can get a little stiff at times, being outperformed by co-star Kathryn Newton’s ordinary yet charming portrayal. However, it is Ryan Reynolds’ particularly expressive Pikachu that steals the show with its immense cuteness mixed with borderline vulgarity, like a toned-down Deadpool just enough for the movie to remain on a PG rating. His banter with everyone is consistently funny, which is on the realm of Ryan Reynolds’ branded humor in general.

Thanks to director Rob Letterman and his co-screenwriters Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, and Derek Connolly, the relationships and interactions between our characters and Pokémon are some of the film’s strongest aspects. I found myself enjoying the banters and dialogue a lot more than the main story itself, which ended up being notably predictable and chained down by tropes for a detective mystery. For a family friendly movie, Pokémon Detective Pikachu doesn’t shy away from incorporating the gritty visual cues of neo-noir, seamlessly blending pseudo-realistic Pokémon and breathtaking neon-heavy aesthetic. Cinematographer John Mathieson does a fantastic job in making Ryme City look alive and robust, from its back-alley night markets to a bustling metropolis.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu is primarily targeted towards fans of the franchise with the amount of fan service indulgence, intent on evoking a sense of nostalgia to a generation that grew up with the franchise while enticing younger potential neophytes to join its fanbase. Most of the time, Hollywood misses that mark completely, but luckily gets close to the bullseye in this one. Part of the fun of the movie is identifying all the Pokémon that gets featured, and the several references (Tim recalling Pikachu’s strongest moves is a nod to battle enthusiasts) on the basic concepts of Pokémon scattered throughout the film, that are mostly going to be brushed over by casual audiences. Nonetheless, even if you’re not a fan, Pokémon Detective Pikachu can still be a fun ride, if only for the absurdity of an adorable Pikachu with the comedy of Ryan Reynolds.

Rating: ★★★☆☆