Enola Holmes

This film stirred up a lot of drama on release and got a bad reputation for it. Much of the noise centered on the historical reimagining that the filmmakers reveled in, which many reviewers took offense to, while another factor that offended viewers was Cavill's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes as both polite and all-too fallible. Both of these issues are unfounded.

The first is unfounded because Enola Holmes in no way presents itself as historical fiction. It's a comedy-adventure film based on a series of stories about a fictional detective. Expecting accuracy here is like expecting it from The Death of Stalin. The second is unfounded because, put simply, this isn't really a Sherlock Holmes film, and were Sherlock as preternaturally intelligent as he is in Doyle's stories, he'd completely overshadow the lead (which is generally not a good thing.)

Visually, the film looks great, with beautiful sets and locations, and a wonderful array of period costumes. Brown's performance really carries the film, especially in the more lighthearted moments. The other cast members were also impressive, though I did find the acting somewhat stilted during the film's exposition-heavy "serious" scenes.

This film's issues mainly stem from its overreliance on expository dialogue. It forcibly leads viewers around by the nose, treating its audience like fools all while being about as predictable as the key change in a pop song. While the 4th wall shenanigans are occasionally funny, they start to slip into the Dorra-esc in the film's back half, and I found them mostly distracting overall. The story is oddly paced and somehow overcomplicated while also being remarkable simple, so, unfortunately, the best way to watch Enola Holmes is with one's brain set to low - which isn't a great sign for a detective story.

Nonetheless, Enola Holmes is two hours worth of lighthearted adventure that many people seem to have taken way, way too seriously. It is not a Sherlock Holmes story. It isn't even much of a mystery. It's a teen adventure film and should be treated as such. If that's what you're in the market for, Enola Holmes is worth the watch, being a good-quality example of the genre. If you're looking for a proper detective flick, I'd consider looking elsewhere.

This is the movie I wish I had at 15. This isn't about Sherlock Holmes. It's not about solving a mystery or surprising the audience. It's about a teenage girl finding out who she is. It was charming, funny, wonderfully acted, aesthetically pleasing, and sweet. If you are a grown man criticizing it, Back off. This wasn't made for you. Or me. This was made for 15 yro girls. And the fifteen year old girl in me LOVED it.

The acting was very well done and charming. There were a lot of good moments and some beautiful shots. Millie Bobby Brown is solid in her role. Also, the fight scenes were well executed. The supporting cast was largely excellent. But, the writing came up short. The beginning was one long voiceover and rather dull. Enola's looks at the camera were fun but too much of the story was told that way. They violated the "show, don't tell' tenet of all good fiction. Also, if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan, you might be somewhat turned off by this movie. If you're Millie Bobby Brown fan though, you'll probably love it. I still like her character in this - it was good to see her have an opportunity to play someone so different from Eleven on Stranger Things.

I agree with one of the people who posted here. People very often view a film not for what it is, but what they either think it should be or want it to be. As the poster pointed out, this isn't a Quentin Tarantino film. It's well-done family entertainment about the adventures of a young woman, Enola Holmes, as she sets out to find her missing mother.

She's Sherlock's sister, and Sherlock and Mycroft appear in the form of Henry Cavill and Sam Clafin. I did not feel they registered much. The real star is Millie Bobby Brown as Enola. Her mother is played by Helena Bonham-Carter. Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, and Fiona Shaw make up a very good cast.

The film has wonderful production values, and I wonder if there are plans for future adventures of Enola. The film is really for teenaged women, and it's a lot of fun, with its emphasis on creative imagination and girl power.

People may tune in because of the Sherlock connection, but it's not really about him. It's about his sister. Amazing how that family keeps growing.

I read quite a few reviews forsaking this movie. While I understand their standings, I don't think they understood the movie. There were several revolutionary women during the time of the movie and before it. Shall I remind people of Joan of Arc?! Anyway, back to the movie. The background was about ENOLA HOLMES NOT SHERLOCK. There are plenty of movies about him even if she did not exist in Sir Arthur's books. While the movie had undertones of feminism, it was mainly about a coming of age story, where society expects you to conform to their standards instead of being an individual, much like today. Also, when Millie was talking to the audience it is a real thing called Breaking The Fourth Wall, which is a term for the invisible wall that exists between the world the play or movie in this case is in, and the audience.

I think Millie did a fantastic job captivating her audience whether you liked it or not. I recommend it to anyone who loves a adventurous tale.