Enola Holmes
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, Helena Bonham Carter
Directed by Harry Bradbeer
Ever since 1892, the character of Sherlock Holmes has become a mainstay in popular culture. From countless novels, films, television series, and video games, the famed sleuth from Baker Street has been re-imagined and re-formatted for different audiences, from Guy Ritchie's slick Robert Downey Jr.-led franchise to Benedict Cumberbatch's "Sherlock" British series, to a modern take with the television series "Elementary," and then there's that Will Ferrell abomination that won't be named - and those are just the most recent. Author Nancy Springer has written a series of Sherlock Holmes books, but offering a much different, much more modern, perspective. Instead of focusing on the famed detective, she instead created her own Holmes character - Sherlock's sixteen-year-old sister Enola - and chronicles her adventures into becoming just as intelligent and resourceful as her famed brother. Finally, the novel series has seen a big-screen adaptation, and the result is something that is wonderful for all audiences to enjoy, a franchise-starting film brightened by the insightful Millie Bobby Brown as the titular role.
Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) is the youngest of the three Holmes siblings, and is the only one still living at home after her father passed away and her brothers Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin) left, leaving only herself and her eccentric mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter). Eudoria doesn't want Enola to be like every other girl, and instead teaches her from home to be her own woman, training her in martial arts, exercise, literature, chemistry, and everything else that a proper young lady of the time wouldn't be allowed to do, and the two share an unbreakable bond. On Enola's sixteenth birthday, she awakens to find Eudoria gone, leaving cryptic clues as to her whereabouts.
Sherlock and Mycroft return home to tend to Enola, with Mycroft wishing for her to go to boarding school to be a proper lady, but Enola runs off to London to find her mother. Along the way she runs into Viscount Lord Tewksbury, Marquess of Basilwether (Louis Partridge), who's on the run himself from a mysterious man who seemingly wants him dead. When they arrive at London they depart, but soon Enola finds herself drawn back to the young boy, and together they set out to solve both their mysteries, which surprisingly becomes more and more connected.
"Enola Holmes" is a fresh breath of air into a growingly tiresome franchise that elevates the female empowerment movement set in a time where women were seen as lesser than men, whose only purpose in life was to marry and pump out baby boys. The film shows that girls can do everything that boys can, and sometimes even better, thanks in huge part to Millie Bobby Brown's eccentric performance. The film finds Enola at sixteen, which is the same age as Brown, and you catch her infectious energy from the first moment to the last, a performer that's wise beyond her years, who showcases Enola as both a highly intellectual person but also the comedic chops to really bring down the house. Brown has been a regular screen presence since "Stranger Things" debuted when she was just twelve years old, and much like other younger actresses like Saorise Ronan, she clearly has a very rich, full future ahead of her, which will hopefully include more "Enola Holmes" films.
It seems almost simple in today's thinking to find Enola on her adventures, but during her time, she couldn't freely make her way through London solving crimes, but instead relied on her wits and disguises to get her by. The mystery continues to grow, and as such, so does her desire to become her own person and make her own mark on history, due to her mother's independent nature that she bestowed upon her. And with Millie Bobby Brown leading the way, we're more than happy to accompany her on her own journey of self-discovery as we traverse from the vividly colorful landscape of the country to Giles Nuttgens' world of London, which is bleaker, more boisterous, and slightly darker. Still, Brown's magnetic personality shines in each scene, as she's fully committed to the project, which makes us more and more invested as the film continues its two-hour runtime. While the film could've been shortened a bit, it doesn't really drag in the way other films do.
Along with Nuttgens' cinematography, Adam Bosman's editing and Daniel Pemberton's score only serve to add to the excitement and fun of the film, but also those in front of the camera add their own unique feel. Henry Cavill's Sherlock is more reserved than his other counterparts, but that's only because this isn't his film. Sam Claflin's Mycroft is your typical handlebar mustache twirling bad guy (although not technically a "bad" guy, just a guy stuck in the ways of the patriarchy). Helena Bonham Carter is a truly inspired choice as Eudoria, as both the character and actress share an eccentric personality that exudes frame-to-frame. All these additions help allow Brown to lead the charge in this franchise-starting film filled with adventure, humor, and heart.
Led by the effervescent Millie Bobby Brown, "Enola Holmes" breathes a new life into the Sherlock Holmes story and offers the framework for a new film franchise that's witty, charming, and filled with adventure and comedy.
The Score: A
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