Screen Rant

Gamers have been eager for a good video game film for decades and they finally got it with Detective Pikachu! 1 / 7

Of course, the title of 'best video game film' is a low bar, and Detective Pikachu isn't without its shortcomings. 2 / 7

The thrill is seeing live-action Pokémon is the clear draw, but Detective Pikachu never really evolves past that. 3 / 7

Since the film is based on the game of the same name, it's clear that there were limits in place to what could be done. 4 / 7

Detective Pikachu is successful at times, but it's the human cast that muddies its rich world. 5 / 7

Mixed motives, illogical decisions, and some bad acting make some of the adventure head-scratching at times. 6 / 7

Still, Pokémon fans are better off with everything Detective Pikachu does. Here's hoping future films build on the formula! 7 / 7