Reviewed by: Anantha Alagappan
Feminism, the Sherlock Holmes way.
A delightful film and a spin off from the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this movie is about Enola Holmes, the teen sister of the famous Sherlock Holmes who steps into her brother’s shoes owing to compelling circumstances.
Enola Holmes Movie Plot
Enola Holmes is the youngest sibling of the Holmes family and is extremely intelligent, thoughtful and skillful. Raised alone by her eccentric single mother, Eudoria (played by Helena Bonham Carter), she grows up learning chess, jujitsu and decrypting ciphers. Her mother means the world to her and Enola is happy and content until her 16th birthday, when her mother suddenly vanishes, leaving her an intriguing birthday gift.
She reaches out to her two older brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, who had abandoned their home in pursuit of their careers for help. Mycroft, instead of understanding her woes, condemns her attire and outlook and deems her unfit to be presented in the society. He takes her in as his ward and summons Ms. Harrison, a stern and ruthless principal of a Finishing school, which primarily focuses on teaching social graces and upper-class etiquettes to young ladies. Sherlock, on the other hand, sees the intelligence in her, but refuses to meddle in the affairs of his older brother and his sister.
Soon, Enola finds out that the birthday gift which her mom had given her contains a cipher, which coerces Enola to escape from the clutches of her brothers. She boards a train at a different station and bumps into young viscount Tewksbury under unusual circumstances, which include but not limited to being found hidden in a bag to escape from his parents.
As both plan their escapades, they come face-to-face with a hired assassin who chases them wherever they go. Once Enola steps into London, she parted ways with the viscount to find her mother, but later goes back to him as she finds out that his life is in danger.
So, now Enola finds herself chasing two mysteries and not one, with her brother Sherlock closely following on her footsteps.
Check out The Review of Enola Holmes 2 Netflix Original Movies Here!
Enola Holmes Technicalities
The movie is beautifully made, the English countryside and the castles shot in abundance. But the highlight of this movie is the crisp and tight screenplay and the equation between the two main characters, Enola and Sherlock. Millie Bobby Brown is delightful as Enola and Henry Cavill, charming as Sherlock Holmes, the man who is supposed to have no emotions and no family ties. It is perhaps for the first time we see the humane side of the legend, whom we know as the hero of ciphers and logical deductions.
My Final Words on the Movie
The plot is gripping and the audience is compelled to hold on to the edge of their seats. My heart skipped a beat every time Enola was chased and brutally attacked by the assassin, who was hired to kill the viscount. She frequently keeps changing her disguises to avoid any attention, from a slave boy to a widow to a distinguished English maiden, the film makers have deftly given her a makeover every time she changes her disguise. Her costumes are extremely well done.
Overall, it is a delightful movie, beautifully shot. I wished it were a little lengthy.
The World of Movies Rating: 9/10
Movie Title: Enola Holmes
Based on: The Enola Holmes Mysteries: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
Directed by: Harry Bradbeer
Screenplay by: Jack Thorne
Main Cast: Millie Bobby Brown as Enola Holmes, Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes, Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes
Year of Release: 2020
Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama
Country of Origin: USA
Languages: English
Running time: 123 minutes
Production Company: Legendary Pictures, PCMA Productions
Distributed by: Netflix
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