Pokémon Detective Pikachu

Spoiler alert.

I admit, that prior to seeing this film, I knew next to nothing about Pokémon.

I had seen various Pokémons out and about from time to time, but mistakenly thought Pikachu was Pokémon, like Spongebob Squarepants is SpongeBob SquarePants, or Dora the Explorer is an explorer named Dora.

Incorrect was I, as I discovered shortly after tuning in to my first Pokémon film, Pokémon Detective Pikachu, a hard-hitting soy young adult feature.

I say young adult because the themes seemed too frightening for younger audiences, considering that animal fights, genetic manipulation, and steroid abuse metaphorically intermingle within, albeit with cutesy cuddly unabashed observations, and two struggling young professionals unaccustomed to workplace romance.

Come to think of it, if you took away the animation and the metaphor, perhaps substituting Bruce Willis and a hangover for Detective Pikachu with amnesia, you'd have a grizzled potentially hard-boiled gut wrenching agitation, with robots instead of Pokémon?, an affair, an obsession, an ulcer?

But on the surface the film's much less 12-step.

It's rather idyllic in fact, a bustling city where humans and Pokémon live in robust harmony, like if everyone in Seattle had a loveable family pet, and was eagerly encouraged to take them to work, to the park, to the cinéma, out to eat.

Everywhere in fact, it's a highly advanced idea, which unfortunately doesn't receive much screentime, as Tim Goodman (Justice Smith), Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), and Detective Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) uncover more traditional pillow pastimes.

Sigh.

The mastermind behind Ryme City is confined to a wheelchair and desires to briskly walk again.

But since his mortal leverage lacks fluid mobility, he hopes to transfer his mind to a lively Pokémon, the formidable Mewtwo no less.

But not only that, he develops a gas that will merge everyone in the city with their cherished Pokémon companions, whom he will then diabolically rule forever after, employing extant whimsy, brawn, and caprice, however he sees fit, as the wayward crow flies.

Failing to have consulted his constituents, we've no idea if they were hip to the idea, but fortunately critical inquiry comes a characteristically calling, the brazen altruistic intent, sweetly sleuthing with fact-based reconnaissance.

Most environmentalists aren't mad obsessed plutocrats coveting immortality.

They just want to curb pollution and live symbiotically with nature, according to humanistic customs, I'm assuming.

I don't think there's anyone out there who wants to flood nature with toxic pollutants that make people and animals sick; so why aren't we searching for solutions to make such a reality marketable?

Green shifts are becoming available.

They've certainly found one on Apricot Lane Farms.

Where I imagine Pokémon would co-exist.

Perhaps even lighten the load.

Adorably.

Synchronously.

Was there ever any doubt?

Love the Pokémon.

Cool film but not for really young kids.