In order to escape a greedy Pokémon hunter, Celebi must use the last of its energy to travel through time to the present day. Celebi brings along Sammy, a boy who had been trying to protect it. Along with Ash, Pikachu, and the rest of the gang, Sammy and Celebi must encounter an enemy far more advanced than the hunter, with the fate of the forest hanging in the balance.
Its save-the-planet message clashes with its crass marketing.
– Michael O'Sullivan,
Washington Post,
19 Nov 2002
rotten:
A rote exercise in both animation and storytelling.
– Megan Turner,
New York Post,
13 Oct 2002
rotten:
An improvement on the feeble examples of big-screen Poke-mania that have preceded it.
– Robert Denerstein,
Denver Rocky Mountain News,
12 Oct 2002
rotten:
The animation and game phenomenon that peaked about three years ago is actually dying a slow death, if the poor quality of Pokemon 4 Ever is any indication.
– Daphne Gordon,
Toronto Star,
11 Oct 2002
rotten:
4Ever has the same sledgehammer appeal as Pokemon videos, but it breathes more on the big screen and induces headaches more slowly.