Enola Holmes

Wow. Truly love this take on the Holmes universe!! Beautifully acted as well!

The people who had a problem with this movie were those who came in with the wrong expectations. Yes, the villain was easy to guess, and the movie wasn’t the usual Sherlock type with lots of focus on clues and detective work. That wasn’t the point of movie, or the book on which it is based.

It’s a tale of a girl coming into her own while she searches for her mother. And it just so happens that her family includes the famous Sherlock Holmes.

The acting and cinematography are beautifully done, and I applaud the director for being able to make Sherlock memorable (via Henry Cavill) without stealing the limelight from the protagonist, who was brilliantly portrayed by Brown. Brown does the balancing act perfectly, showing that her character isn’t a damsel in distress, is capable of taking care of herself and others, while not throwing the “females rule” agenda in our faces (looking at you, Charlie’s Angels, 2020)

Very fun. Full of mystery and intrigue, as you'd expect. If you enjoyed the trailer, that style stays throughout - and works really well. Beautifully detailed set design & props. I may have to watch it again to catch the details.

well I was in two minds to watch this but glad i did , Millie Bobby Brown is so good

I've never really paid attention to Milly Bobby Brown until now but oh my I definitely need to start. In this she absolutely shone, she was quirky but empowering at the same time and I loved it.

THIS MOVIE IS JUST SO MUCH FUN!! (◕◡◕🌸) I came for the stacked cast and because I'm a sucker for lighter period pieces. Henry Cavill is such a delight as Sherlock (I am looking DIRECTLY at it (º﹃º ) ), Sam Claflin is surprisingly convincing in the stereotypical uptight Mycroft role (I had to get out of the Finnick Odair headspace, oops), but the real joy is seeing Millie Bobby Brown shine as a lead. Newcomer Louis Partridge is ADORABLE too; their on-screen chemistry was great.

Once I got used to the constant breaking of the fourth wall (like, this was Dora the Explorer levels of fourth-wall breaking), it's such a fun watch. I'm trying to think of another adjective for fun, please bear with me. The jokes landed, and I was constantly giggling at Enola's interactions with all of the characters. Honestly, it just makes me want to read the books that this is based off of. While the plot is predictable at times, I think it stands well for a younger audience, which leads me to my next point: why was this rated PG-13? I would compare this movie to Emma Roberts' 2007 Nancy Drew film, which was rated PG and had the same vibes, just in a modern setting. In Enola, there's no cursing at all, and any intense scenes are few and far between, to the point that I would think it wouldn't have been too difficult to rewrite for a PG rating. Like, SPOILER: [spoiler] I was NOT expecting to see that one guy clonk his head and die like that. LMAO. AND THE GRANDMA SHOOTING MY BOY POINT BLANK? BRO. [/spoiler] Either way, it's not really a complaint from me, just a note that this movie definitely is yearning to be a family feature, but not quite getting there if you have younger sensitive kids.

Anyways, give this one a watch if you're in the mood for a light, fun (I didn't think of another adjective I'm sorry) mystery that you can easily follow along. I appreciate the relevant themes of being seen in an environment that tries so hard to turn a blind eye. If you're a sucker for these cliches (me), this movie will definitely inspire you to chase your dreams or whatever LOL.

Fantastic! it played out great with a super cast, specially millie brown with a sound performance, definitely going big in her career and very entertaining and lots of good humour.

THE WACPINE OF ‘ENOLA HOLMES’

WRITING: 8
ATMOSPHERE: 7
CHARACTERS: 8
PRODUCTION: 9
INTRIGUE: 8
NOVELTY: 7
ENJOYMENT: 8

Jack Thorne's script for Enola Homes presents a surprisingly fresh take on a Sherlock Holmes story, from the viewpoint of his significantly younger (and seemingly more brilliant-minded) sister. It’s as much a character piece as a feminist manifest, set at a time when certain expectations dictated what young women were excepted to do and say. In that sense, Enola Holmes is a powerful social and political commentary, without being overly in your face.
Thorne constructs a fun, fast-paced adventure, and allows his protagonist to shine with her wits and courage, while still utilizing the Holmes brothers as important supporting characters. Somewhere under that quirky writing and historical feminist piece, there is also an intricately plotted mystery, presented excitingly and providing some of the finest sequences of the entire film.
The script confidently stands on its own two legs, while drawing inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle's source material. Those expecting a fully-fledged Sherlock Homes film will be disappointed. Then again, that is not the point of this movie at all. As a Sherlock Holmes mystery film, Enola Holmes isn't very good, but as a fascinatingly written character piece with important messages for contemporary (female) audiences, it's fine.

Enola Holmes expertly keeps up the historical setting with fines set design and cinematography. It's not a crime thriller or action film, but more of a fast-paced character drama with frequent spurs of lighthearted excitement, humour and sweet character moments.

What's great about Enola is that she isn't simply a female version of Sherlock, but a distinct character, with many similar characteristics and a very different emotional spectrum. Millie Bobbie Brown once again proves she is among the most promising up and coming actresses right now, because she is phenomenal. Surrounded by established co-actors, some of them among Britain's finest, Brown surpasses them almost entirely in most scenes she shares with them. It's also great how the film doesn’t weave a love story between Enola and Tewkesbury.
Despite numerous versions of Sherlock and his brother in all forms of media, Enola Holmes manages to give the two famous Holmes brothers another new spin. Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin slip surprisingly well into their literary characters, not trying to mimic what other actors have done. That being said, I am so used to seeing Benedict Cumberbatch's sociopathic Sherlock and Robert Downey Jr's action hero version, that this Basil Rathbone-esque version of Sherlock seems almost too normal. Claflin's Mycroft, meanwhile, is something of an unlikable villain here, helping distinguish him from, say, Stephen Fry's quirky version in the Guy Ritchie films.
This film is an ensemble piece and the circle is complete with Helena Bonham Carter, Fiona Shaw and Burn Gorman in fine supporting roles, as well as Adeel Akhtar in a refreshing take on Lestrade.

The editing and cinematography techniques are noteworthy; the jumpy editing and the documentary-style narration, which is lovely. I love the beautiful set and costume design and a beautiful soundtrack. The direction is what sets this film apart from many other takes on a Sherlock story. Still, some shticks in Bradbeer’s direction are inspired by some of the recent takes on the character.

The quirky and inventive techniques used to carry the story forward, Millie Bobbie Brown in a believable brilliant young woman of her time and a central mystery with many twists and turns keep this film going and help it stand out from the oversaturated field of Sherlock Holmes adaptations. That being said, the somewhat uneven pacing and lengthy moments lacking real plot progression, make the film feel longer than necessary.

We have seen multiple adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's classic literary creations but somehow Thorne and Bradbeer have managed to score a point by giving us yet another one that feels fresh and inventive. While Enola Holmes is less about the Holmes and more about the young, independent lady that Enola turns out to become, it takes enough element from Doyle’s' stories to feel like a Sherlock Holmes film.

The parties involved with the creation of this movie are intent on making a sequel (based on how the film ends) and based on the performances alone, I would watch one. This is a refreshing take on Sherlock Holmes, while still clearly being something completely different as well. One of the best Netflix original films in a long time.

WACPINE RATING: 7.86 / 10 = 4 stars

Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) is so good. That you forgive the film, for not enough of Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes (Man of Steel).
The film is overlong, yet a delight to watch due to the cast. Millie gets to show she’s a true star. She deserves more than just looking in the sky and making believe she’s watching Godzilla fight.