Sherlock Holmes’ sister Enola Holmes was not part of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original story. She was created by Nancy Springer, who has written seven books about teenage detectives. Netflix loosely adapted the first of them in 2020. stranger thingsMillie Bobby Brown as Enola witcherHenry Cavill who plays Sherlock Holmes. became a big hit, according to netflixWhen positive reviews and a quickly established fandom. So it’s no surprise that Netflix has greenlit the sequel. Sherlock Her Holmes story has over 250 film adaptations of hers, so it seems fitting that Enola would get a few of her own.
The second Enola Holmes movie is a rare sequel that improves upon the first. While the first film had its strengths, particularly Brown’s stellar performance, director Harry Bradbeer and writer Jack Thorne are more convinced of the themes and characters this time around. You don’t have to spend time setting things up to rebuild Enola’s relationship with her family, you can put a major mystery in the lead role, and your relationship with your famous brother will be distracted from the plot. Strengthen the intrigue, not scatter.
[Ed. note: This review contains slight setup spoilers for Enola Holmes 2, plus spoilers for the first movie.]
Photo: Alex Bailey/Netflix
the sequel begins Enola started her own detective agency. But all her potential clients other Holmes’ brother and sister who are having trouble attracting customers. A young factory girl then appears at the door, imploring Enola to find her missing sister. Enola ends up exploring the working-class world of Victorian London, which is completely unfamiliar. Meanwhile, Sherlock is stuck with his own case involving huge sums of money that have disappeared and reappeared in bank accounts across London. As Enola snoops further, she learns that her case involves some of London’s more upper-class residents, and she discovers that her paths are once again crossing her brother’s. I notice.
Netflix’s first Enola Holmes movie ran into legal trouble Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate claimed to be using a version of Sherlock that’s not yet in the public domain. The lawsuit was dismissed because it portrays Sherlock not as the usual arrogant and callous detective, but as an awkward man with warmth at heart for his sister.
As in the first film, Brown and Cavill’s acting is evocative. Enola speaks directly to her audience and breaks the fourth wall with her confident charm. Cavill’s Sherlock gives the famous detective another dimension: in addition to being a brilliant and gorgeous genius, he Also A brother trying to reunite with his sister. Sherlock and Enola have a fun relationship. We try to connect with each other and express that we care about each other in limited ways. Also trying to solve a case, jealously keeping the progress and process secret. each other.
Photo: Alex Bailey/Netflix
Bradbeer and Thorne’s first big problem Enola Holmes I wanted the audience to understand the Holmes family dynamics and balance that out with the rest of the plot. Had the filmmakers not woven into another missing person plot, they could have laid the groundwork for a tight-knit family-focused narrative. epoch politics. For the first time, the film didn’t commit to fully investigating that thread, so the final revelation about Enola’s mother was jarring and its ramifications remained unexplored. so Enola Homes 2 Leave that sled untensioned. Thankfully, when it comes to other plotlines, this time it finally plummets rather than just dancing around the inequalities of Victorian society.
This time around, the two separate mysteries come together more quickly and in the end with a more satisfying result. And the road there is very pleasant. Enola sneaks into a place of sharp contrasts in terms of rank and stakes. She again runs into the charming Viscount Tewkesbury (Lewis Partridge) from her first film, and the spark between the two is still palpable. he teaches her to dance she teaches him to fight. Brown imbues Enola with such seriousness and courage that whatever she does, where she goes, who she talks to, ends up being sheer joy. Whether she punches a cop, gropes etiquette at a ball, or helps her drunken brother get home, she’s charming.
Photo: Alex Bailey/Netflix
There is one big, glaring gap. Enola Homes 2Much of this sequel focuses on Enola recognizing her privilege as an upper-class woman and using it to help those in need. It features many stories about inequality, but race remains a complete blind spot in this world. But the fact that it focuses on other injustices and ignores this one makes the omission particularly egregious. I feel it.
Enola Homes 2 However, it’s an improvement over the first film because Enola not only learns about the world outside of her isolated home life, but actually helps others change it. , is not just a fun mystery that focuses on a strong-willed teen detective and a spectacular cast of supporting characters. They also have a magnifying glass over the world of Victorian London, one that is often fascinating in other adaptations. It’s partially obscured. With such noticeable improvements, the next version may be perfect.and Enola Holmes It deserves a third movie, and maybe a fourth and fifth. She is a wonderful heroine who can act alone as well as co-star with her famous older brother. The world deserves more Enola Holmes.
Enola Homes 2 Currently streaming on Netflix.