Delayed Reaction: Enola Holmes

Premise: The younger sister of Sherlock Holmes goes searching for their missing mother and gets sucked into another mystery along the way.

 

So, Millie Bobby Brown is legit. I think most of us figured that with Stranger Things. Just in case anyone thought that was a fluke, Enola Holmes is here to say she's going to be around for a while if she wants to be. She's charismatic and confident from start to finish. What's impressive too is how the movie surrounds her with veterans like Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and Helena Bonham Carter and she doesn't just hold her own. She dictates the terms of those scenes.  

The movie overall is nothing special. It's a YA Sherlock Holmes targeted to today's young people. Enola's over-the-top skills are foregrounded early as just something the Holmes family has in common. She breaks the fourth wall constantly. Most of it is fun in a Fleabag way. In a less playful movie, the self-awareness could've bothered me more. It mostly fits here. It has the annoying habit of mystery movies where plot happens to Enola as often as it comes to her by her own efforts. The movie gets a little over-concerned with literal puzzles (although it does call Enola out on that).

 

Enola Holmes is by no means a perfect movie, but it is a surprising amount of fun. The cast is solid and Millie Bobby Brown proves that she deserves her star status.

 

Side Note: It's always nice to hear a Brit allowed to use their accent. Millie Bobby Brown has a solid American accent, especially for her age, but you can't fake her ease with her natural accent (or something a lot closer to it).

 

Verdict: Weakly Recommend