Enola Holmes movie review

I dare say, almost every in the English speaking world has heard of Sherlock Holmes. And most of them will know that Enola Holmes was not part of the original list of characters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

And in case you didn't know, Sir Doyle was also a medical doctor, from Edinburgh, and I once visited the Royal College where he is proudly mentioned by the curator. 

I deviate, but that's one museum one should visit if you are in Edinburgh. 

So this is a new character and she is the protagonist for a new set of stories, and it's a refreshing twist to the classic detective stories about Sherlock Holmes.

This is an important decision, as anyone or movie bearing the name of Holmes will be benchmarked against the other shows, especially the recent brace, with Robert Downing Jr, aka Ironman as well as Benedict Cumberbatch. And these have attracted a large following, especially the latter, with their portrayal, and I dare say, Benedict has made his turn almost unforgettable.  

So now we have a new spin on the Holmes Franchise, but I think the viewer should just forget about the association, and approach this movie as though it was a standalone, coming to age movie, with a great dose of witty, some romance, action and mystery thrown in.

Mille Bobby Brown, the star of this show is on a roll. She began in Godzilla, and with Stranger Things, she has become the darling of the movie world right now. This turn as Sherlock's younger sister, will only cement her as the young rising star. 

Here, she continues to show that unique mix of spunk, sassiness, intelligence and resourcefulness along with a look that tends to make her older than her age. But even as she matures, she retains that wide-eyed innocence that keeps her charming and an absolute joy to watch.

In the movie, Enola lives with her mum whilst her older two siblings, Mycroft and Sherlock (played by Mr Superman himself - Mssr Cavill) have left the roost for the bright lights and big city, and suddenly at the age of 16, her mother disappears overnight. 

Now Enola has to solve the mystery of her sudden departure and escape the clutches of Mycroft, who intends to shape her into a more acceptable and ladylike lady, intend of the more wild child that she portrays. 

In this show, Sherlock tends to be more sullen, taking a backseat, which is in part due to a more subdued portrayal by Henry, but also due to the focus on Enola, which raises to the occasion, as she flees, fights and charms her way to London, making friends, including one Viscount, who is also fleeing for his life.

Let's make no pretences, there is no great mystery to solve, and whenever Enola is around it's a wonderful mix of action, wit and fun, as she goes from place to place. But the show does slow down a bit when the other actors are on screen. Even so, I would say that there's more than enough to make me smile, laugh and even clap along to her antics.

Picture quality on Netflix is superb in Dolby Vision, the Atmos mix will not be used as demo material, but it is entirely serviceable given the lack of bombastic scenes. You could turn off your home theatre system, and just use your TV for this one. 

It will be the plot that captivates you, and it certainly did that for me. However you'll want to listen to the soundtrack on a good sound system, for the music is suitably rousing, and does a wonderful job of adding to the entire experience.

Millie Bobby Brown is a joy to watch, and I will heartily recommend this show to one and all.

Highly recommended. 

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 I have no financial interest or other interests in any of the items / events I write about.