ENOLA HOLMES REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most famous fictional detectives, with his stories, written by Arthur Conan Doyle, being adapted into a BBC television series starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes, and two films starring Robert Downey Jr. portraying the detective. Both are memorable adaptations of Sherlock Holmes, however, Harry Bradbeer’s latest film, Enola Holmes, focuses on his younger sister who is just as smart and interesting as her famous older brother.

Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) is the younger sister of Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and embarks on a quest to find her mother (Helena Bonham Carter). 

Although I haven’t read Doyle’s novels or watched the BBC television series, I still enjoyed Enola Holmes, which is based on the book series written by Nancy Springer. Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, many films have been released online instead of a theatrical release. These include a lot of action packed films including Extraction, The Old Guard and Project Power, which were released on the streaming site, Netflix. Unfortunately, the films received a divisive response and failed to leave much of a lasting impression. However, Enola Holmes is the latest film to be released on Netflix and it’s one of the most enjoyable films to watch on the streaming site. It provides viewers with an interesting main character and a compelling mystery-based narrative. Many films that include a mystery are predictable leading to viewers losing interest and the film becoming a boring watch. Fortunately, I didn’t find that to be the case with Enola Holmes. 

Brown shot to fame at the age of 13 when she portrayed Eleven in the fantasy series, Stranger Things. While I think that her role as Eleven will always be her best, Brown delivers a smart and charismatic portrayal of Enola. In the film, Enola frequently breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the viewer. At first, I found this a bit awkward, however, I quickly got used to it. Cavill is best known for portraying Superman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel and the disastrous Justice League, however, while his portrayal of Sherlock isn’t as memorable as Cumberbatch’s or Downey Jr.’s, it was still a solid performance. Aside from Enola, another memorable character was Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge) who has recently escaped from his family and joins Enola on her adventures. I was hoping that a romance wouldn’t be forced between the pair, fortunately, Enola and Tewksbury remain friends. 

For the majority of its 123 minute runtime, Enola Holmes is a lighthearted adventure film with a mystery at the centre of its narrative. However, the final half hour takes a dark turn leading to a shocking revelation. Prior to watching, I was surprised by Enola Holmes’ certification rating of 12, however, I can understand why as there’s some mild violence towards the end. Apart from that, I think Enola Holmes can be enjoyed by families as there’s something for everyone.

Enola Holmes is set in the late nineteenth century, a time when women had no rights and were seen as nothing more than wives and mothers. However, Enola isn’t interested in marrying or becoming a proper woman, which makes her a respectable and good role model for younger female viewers. She’s smart, brave and determined to solve her mother’s mysterious disappearance. Although Enola Holmes takes place in the late 1800s, it’s a shame that women are still campaigning for equal rights.

Prior to watching Enola Holmes, I wasn’t sure what to expect, however, following its impressive positive critical reception, I decided to give it a watch and, fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed. Brown is delightful as the titular protagonist and the story is filled with mystery and adventure, leading to a thoroughly entertaining film.

7/10