Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge, Burn Gorman, Adeel Akhtar, Susie Wokoma, Hattie Morahan, David Bamber, Frances de la Tour, Claire Rushbrook, Fiona Shaw, Ellie Haddington
Review: While searching for her missing mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter), intrepid teen Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) uses her sleuthing skills to outsmart big brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and help runaway lord Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge).
Enola Holmes is a fresh and fun new entry into the universe established by her solemn, moody, and complex brother Sherlock. Except in this instance, Sherlock is none of those things. He's actually a pretty charming, nice fellow! Blasphemous some may say, but I think it really works and early on you see a very heartfelt brother-sister relationship brewing between Sherlock and Enola. Remember, this is a film adapted from a novel written for teenagers so having Sherlock be an unpleasant curmudgeon doesn't exactly play here. Plus, Enola Holmes has never been referenced in any previous Sherlock Holmes stories, so it's time for a clean slate.
Played wonderfully by budding young star Millie Bobby Brown, Enola looks up to her brother Sherlock oftentimes using him as a source of inspiration for her own desire to breakaway from the societal norms expected from her as a young woman. Brown plays the youngest Holmes sibling with a sense of wit and charisma. She is incredibly candid and confident, and comes off as the perfect heroine for young girls to look up to. Sherlock is equally impressed by her inquisitive nature, resourcefulness, and ingenuity.
This movie is just plain fun. There's mystery, an intriguing story, and a whole lot of adventure. I also appreciate that this is a film that can be appreciated by people of all ages, and be enjoyed by the whole family. The film is beautifully shot, using picturesque landscapes all across the United Kingdom. Enola Holmes is also incredibly fast-paced, and it's two-hour runtime doesn't feel very taxing. I thought Harry Bradbeer did a fantastic job bringing these novels to the big screen by making a fun, exuberant movie, but adding in a little danger along the way to remind you that the stakes were very real. I'd be shocked if this weren't the first film in an Enola Holmes franchise, as I think the universe that has been created can be built upon moving forward. All in all, I really enjoyed this film and I highly recommend it for the entire family!
Fun Fact: No reference to a younger sister was ever made in the original Doyle stories. Some readers have speculated that there could be another Holmes sibling, citing the fact that Sherlock never mentioned that he had a brother (Mycroft) until he showed up at Baker Street.