Is Pokémon Detective Pikachu Okay For Kids?

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Fans everywhere can now experience a Pikachu on the big screen like never before, as Detective Pikachu – in theaters May 10th. And if you have kids that are Pokémon fans, they will undoubtedly be asking to see this movie. So, read on to find out our thoughts on if Pokémon Detective Pikachu is okay for kids. 
Detective Pikachu Movie PosterIf you’re reading this, I’m assuming you have one or more Pokémon fan at home. I don’t even remember how my boys first got introduced to Pokémon (it certainly wasn’t from me), but they are VERY into it now. They have binders with Pokémon cards, various Pokémon books, and other Pokémon toys. In fact, Little Brother is currently writing his own Pokémon book and Big Brother draws various Pokémon – even giving them as gifts to friends. Needless to say, they want to see the movie! Here’s the overview if you haven’t seen previews yet: 

Pokémon Detective Pikachu Movie Synopsis

The first-ever live-action Pokémon adventure, “POKÉMON Detective Pikachu” stars Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu and is based on the beloved Pokémon brand—one of the world’s most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and most successful media franchises of all time. The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Detective Pikachu, they join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.

So, yah – my boys have been asking if they’ll be able to see this one. And honestly, Mr. Mom Endeavors and I weren’t sure. After seeing the trailer (especially initially before the film was rated), we weren’t sure that this one would be kid-friendly enough for our liking. If you’ve read some of my movie reviews in the past, you probably already know that we tend to err on the conservative side of what we let the boys see – especially so with a lot of the popular live-action movies. And let’s face it, just because there are “cute characters”, cartoons, or superheroes, it does NOT automatically mean the movie is appropriate for kids. So, what about our friend Detective Pikachu here?  Detective Pikachu Movie For Kids

Is Pokémon Detective Pikachu “ok” for kids? 

Pokémon Detective Pikachu is rated PG for “action/peril, some rude and suggestive humor, and thematic elements.” Given Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu (you know, the same guy that plays Deadpool), there was definitely some room for concern. But, I’m pleased to say that I was actually VERY pleasantly surprised. I think this one is largely “ok” for kids and true to a classic PG rating.

  • Language. The language is overall really mild – like an instance or two of “hell” and “damn”. But that’s it. No obvious swears worse than that! I really was expecting things to be potentially worse here and was glad there wasn’t a lot of overt swearing.
  • Violence. There is definitely some violence and some intense moments of peril. You will see some Pokémon fighting each other and attacking humans. There are also some scenes involving humans fighting each other. Younger kids or more sensitive kids might be upset in a few different moments. But there was nothing overly graphic and upsetting (no blood & gore, guns, etc). It really is what you’d expect from a PG rating.
  • Rude and Suggestive Humor. If you know me well in real life, you know I’m not a big fan of this sort of humor – especially in anything that is supposed to be for kids. I was prepping myself for a lot of this in the movie, and subsequently a lot of eye-rolling from me. BUT, I didn’t really find much of it in the movie at all. In fact, I’m honestly surprised this is even listed in the rating label. There were a few jokes and one-liners that were more for parents that will go over most kids’ heads. But, nothing over the top and super inappropriate.

So, I am happy to say that I think the movie is OK for kids! 

I’m NOT a huge Pokémon fan (though I was pleased that I could name more than 2 of them in the movie ;)) and I went into the film with very low expectations. Truly, I didn’t expect to like it. At all. So, I loved that I was pleasantly surprised. My husband and I both thought the CG Pokémon characters were really well done overall; the movie had some good themes; and it was entertaining enough to sit through even without the kids.

Earth-shattering and award-winning? Nope. Something you can take the whole family to for a couple hours of fun? Absolutely! If your kids (of any age) are Pokémon fans, I think they’ll enjoy this one! 

Catch ’em all in theaters on May 10th, 2019! 

All photos courtesy of Warner Bros. I attended a press screening of Pokémon Detective Pikachu to facilitate this movie review.  

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I’m Sara, a mom to three adorable boys living in the Arizona desert. As a former teacher, I love sharing my passions with others. So, have a look around for creative inspiration about cooking, creating, celebrating, traveling with kids, and more everyday mom endeavors!

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