534. Pokemon The Movie - I Choose You!; movie review

POKEMON THE MOVIE - I CHOOSE YOU
Cert PG
112 mins
BBFC advice: mild fantasy violence threat


A year ago the young people of planet earth seemed to be swept up by a game called Pokemon Go.
To Mrs W and me, Pokemon was represented by cards with which my son was obsessed when he was about ten years old.
I have a recollection of him flipping out when he discovered an ‘ancient miu’ among cards he bought when we were on holiday in Florida in 2000.
The next time Pokemon entered our lives was last year while visiting friends in Germany.
We were told that their 19-year-old son and his girlfriend were going out at midnight in search of Pokemon in nearby woods.
The craze swept the world for a summer. What was that all about?
Anyway, the Pokemon devotees would certainly have had a greater grasp on Kunihiko Yuyama’s film than I did.
My take was that this is a land where humans live alongside and, largely, in harmony with Pokemon which are, in some cases, pets and, in some cases, wild.
At the centre of the story is Ash Ketchum (Sarah Natochenny), a young man whose ambition is to be a master Pokemon trainer.
His ill-discipline means that he does not have the choice of the most renown fighters among the Pokemon but instead is lumbered with Pikachu.
Yes, this is a film about the now world famous Ash and Pikachu first met.
Initially, the two do not see eye to eye and Ash becomes frustrated at what he believes is an inferior Pokemon but he soon finds out that his Hobson's choice is the best one.
On his journey, Ash, comes across those who become allies and those he must defeat if he is to fulfill his goal.
Pickachu is central to his success at trying to become a Pokemon master.
I am sure young Pokemon fans will lap it up but, for me, Yuyama has not stretched himself or the franchise.
This could have been a film from 20 years ago. Perhaps that's what the devotees would have wanted. I would not know because I am not one of them.

Reasons to watch: if you are a die-hard Pokemon fan
Reasons to avoid: same old, same old

Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 4/10

Star tweet

JessAlakasam What if in the finals of the Alola league Ash (Alola) faces off against Ash (I Choose You). Then the Pokemon company couldn't deny Ash the win :P

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