quick hit (No spoilers)
Enola Holmes is a fast paced, creative introduction to the sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. It is a cute, creative, dare I say “family friendly?” movie that still manages to hold some emotional weight and at points feels like an arts and crafts whirlwind (in a good way). If you are looking for something a bit more wholesome for a night in, this might just be your film.
rating
Main Actors – Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge – 0.75 stars
Supporting Actors – Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Claflin – 0.5 stars
Cinematography – 0.5 stars
Writing – 0.5 stars
Aesthetics – 1.0 stars
Total – 3.25 stars out of 5
full breakdown (spoilers)
Many stories have been told about the brothers, but far fewer have explored other family connections. The BBC series tackled a story with their sister, but it was a different character altogether from what is portrayed in this Netflix adaptation.
Enola is played masterfully by Millie Bobby Brown, who it turns out is English (hearing her real voice was instructive), and is also quite a good actor in her own right. She is supported on the periphery by Henry Cavill (as Sherlock), Sam Claflin (as Mycroft), and Helena Bonham Carter (as their mother). However, it is the interplay between Enola and Lord Tewkesbury (played by Louis Partridge) that dominates the film. The only potential downside to this is that Cavill and Claflin are written as very one dimensional characters who appear to only be in the story to progress the narrative.
Enola Holmes finds herself stuck in a whirlwind after her mother disappears. What is she to do? The obvious answer, of course, is to go seek help from her big brother, Sherlock. When he seems unwilling to join in the quest, she decides to break out on her own. With the assistance of Lord Tewkesbury, a young not quite a noble, she dashes across the country in search of answers to mother’s secret messages and plan.
Throughout, there are colorful and creative vignettes and a lot of fourth wall breaking (if you’re into that kind of thing, readers). The story manages to not be entirely predictable, so I won’t give away the ending, but let’s just say there are a few families in this story with malfeasance afoot. This is one mystery that can safely be watched with the family, and all truly scary parts are resolved without gore and mayhem. Netflix has done well with this film, and here’s hoping that we have more content like this in the future.
