(out of ****)
_Pokémon:_The_First_Movie--Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_ (G) * 1/2
with _Pikachu:_The_Movie--Pikachu's_Vacation_ (G) *
The question when it comes to _Pokémon:_The_First_Movie--Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_, is not whether or not it's any good (and, let it be known from the get-go, that it isn't). The question is just how much money it will make in what surely be a huge opening weekend, for children across the country will undoubtedly make their parents take them to this theatrical spinoff of the popular animated TV series/trading card game. The film could simply be a _Pokémon_ screensaver projected onto the silver screen, and kids would want to go anyway, regardless of any objections parents--or anyone else--may have.
A _Pokémon_ screensaver is what the pre-feature short, _Pikachu:_The_Movie--Pikachu's_Vacation_, sometimes resembles. For the uninitiated, Pokémon are "pocket monsters," little animals kept in "Poké balls" and are pitted in battles against each other by their human trainers. The thin plot thread holding together the twenty minutes of _Pikachu's_Vacation_ has the most popular Pokémon, the adorable electrical-powered Pikachu, going to a retreat for Pokémon; the intent is to study the creatures' behavior while in "a state of complete relaxation." Relaxation--to the point of drowsiness--is likely to be felt by the adults in the audience during this "mini-movie," for nothing of interest to anyone over 10 happens. Pikachu and his fellow critters get into all sorts of competitions and petty conflicts before working together to get one out of a jam--literally: a Pokémon gets his head stuck into a pipe, and the others collectively try to pull him out. Every so often, as a new Pokémon is trotted out, the screen fills with its repeated image, not unlike a computer screensaver. The only difference is that I've seen screensavers that are better drawn and animated, not to mention more entertaining to watch.
The jaunty tone takes a surprising turn to the dark side once _Pikachu's_Vacation_ and _Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_ begins. The main feature opens with a scene that seems to be torn from a much more mature animé, with Mewtwo (voiced by Philip Bartlett), the most intelligent and powerful Pokémon, murderous rebelling against the scientists who created him. Even the narration is strangely pretentious; the first lines spoken are, "What is the meaning of life? That is the question that human and Pokémon alike have pondered for years."
But before long, it's familar Pokémon battle time as we meet our heroes Ash (Veronica Taylor), Misty (Rachel Lillis), and Brock (Eric Stuart); and their nemeses, Jessie (Lillis) and James (Stuart), a.k.a. Team Rocket. Ash, trainer to Pikachu and others, is invited to take part in a big Pokémon tournament taking place at a remote island. Little does he and his fellow invitees are walking into a trap set up by Mewtwo, who plans on proving his superior intelligence and strength as well as that of his troop of Pokémon super-clones. Naturally, this is just the first step of a world domination plot by Mewtwo, who hates Pokémon as much, if not more, than humans, for they allow themselves to be "enslaved."
Obviously, the makers of _Pokémon:_The_First_Movie_ are striving for something weightier than the daily cartoon show. It's an admirable ambition, to graft on a message while they have the kiddies' unfettered attention. What is questionable, however, is the choice of message. The tournament on Mewtwo's island becomes one huge free-for-all between the Pokémon and their super-clones, and the trainers look on in horror at the violent display. One character even says something to the effect of, "It's OK for them to battle, but NOT LIKE THIS!" Excuse me, but I fail to see any real difference between this battle and the ones the trainers routinely stage, except that in this case, everyone's going at it all at once. It goes without saying that everything resolves itself in the end, but what do our heroes learn? Nothing, apparently, for it's back to individual Pokémon battles as usual.
If _Pokémon:_The_First_Movie--Mewtwo_Strikes_Back_ had simply been a big screen version of the cartoon show, it would have been better than the overreaching, hypocritical mess that it is; why bother with a message if it goes against what the show is, and then not even follow through with it? Children obviously will miss the point, as best summed up by my 7-year-old nephew's reaction after the screening. While he said he liked the film, he complained, "There wasn't even a winner." Of course, one side lesson of the film is that winning doesn't matter, but you try explaining that to every child who walks into the theatre expecting, as the ads and commercials promise, "the Pokémon match of all time."
Michael Dequina twotrey@juno.com | michael_jordan@geocities.com | jordan_host@sportsmail.com | mrbrown@iname.com Mr. Brown's Movie Site: http://welcome.to/mrbrown CinemaReview Magazine: http://www.CinemaReview.com on ICQ: #25289934 | on AOL Instant Messenger: MrBrown23
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