Enola Holmes

Millie’s awesome in this one. I truly mean that. The only virtues of this spectacle are the spontaneity of her acting together with Henry Cavill’s pleasantly subdued, charming Sherlock  and the cinematography, which is unusually lavish for a Netflix production. As for the rest of it, however, stay away from this in-your-face politically correct fable which tries hard to be woke. I certainly don’t have any qualms about the feminist movement, but this is too much “out of joint”; I always find it rather daft and removed from contemporary reality whenever female characters set in the 19th century fight like men or want to fight like men. The net result is merely a political statement by today’s Hollywood studios, of the kind that has become fashionable these days. (09/23/2020)

A long-haired Eleven, a safe(?) Bellatrix and a no-nonsense Geralt in a film about the Holmes family, which neglects the figure of the famous detective and puts to the fore his "lonely" sister Enola, who is as fluent in the art of deduction as her big brother. In addition to the excellent cast, I was impressed by the unconventional way of narration, in which the main character directly addressed the audience, which gave the story a humorous edge. On the other hand, though, I have to say that I was probably expecting something more. I felt that its potential was not fully exploited. At times the film was perhaps a little too overtly feminist, but it was still an enjoyable two hours. (09/25/2020)

A playful and a smart-mouthed mixture of a child's (or girl's, if you want) adventure/emancipation in the world of grown-ups and basic Holmes proprieties all in one package for the whole family. And everyone involved is obviously enjoying it. Enola's character sometimes flirts with too much “Mary Sue style", but never to the point of being annoying and definitely no more than Sherlock did himself in his time. So at least it stays in the family. It does not reach the quality of Young Sherlock Holmes, but it is cut from the same cloth. The most detrimental thing is the unnecessarily long running time, during which the three main storylines will never be connected. And so the first, second and third are resolved independently. However, not together, but at the expense of the other storylines. Overall, however, this treat is so tasty that there should be more of it in the future. I will at least taste it again. (09/23/2020)

I am delighted that the excitement promised by the trailer, the images, and Millie Bobby Brown herself is abundant. There is always something happening, someone is being pursued, or something is exploding, although it is not always clear what or why. The famous last name is rightfully in the title and often reminds one of Robert Downey's portrayal of the most famous detective. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm and almost Potter-like atmosphere begin and end. The motivation of anyone except Enola herself, whether it is completely minor characters or unfortunately even members of the Holmes family, can be summed up in one sentence. And that is either the loss of the screenwriter or more likely the adaptation itself. Despite clear disappointment, it may still be a series from which I take at least energy and good feelings, but the original potential was headed somewhere else. (08/06/2021)

If it weren't for the irritatingly boring and unnecessarily drawn out exposition, this would almost be a full 3 stars. The final impression is more like a 2 and a half stars. Millie Bobby Brown is quite distinctive though, and outshines both Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter in terms of acting. Overall, this is an interesting would-be extension of the global "Sherlock universe", in which the sister of the famous detective shows a fair amount of wit and general intellect. Moreover, Enola is seen here as a relatively empathetic and almost morally benign personality, something that is often problematic with Sherlock himself. I enjoyed the creative intent of inserting a purely female character into an already existing literary-filmic world of strong male characters to compete for the viewer's attention and, in a somewhat "Dickinsonian" way, show defiance. But if you are expecting a "Sherlockian" detective story, you will be disappointed. Enola Holmes is typical Netfix consumer material, with no special surprises apart from the story itself. (10/19/2020)