Movie: Enola Holmes 2
Production Companies: Legendary Pictures, PCMA Productions
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Producers: Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Ali Mendes, Millie Bobby Brown, Robert Brown
Scriptwriters: Jack Thorne
Main Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill
Release Date: November 4th 2022
Running Time: 129 minutes
Certificate: 12
Introduction
Guess who’s back? Back again? Enola Holmes is back so maybe tell your friends about it. Anyway, the sequel to the underrated 2020 hit film dropped on Netflix yesterday and is once again a very solid watch. Because these days let’s face it, sometimes you just want to see a film where Henry Cavill is chucked out of a pub for being too drunk. Oh also SPOILERS ahead…. So with all that said let’s get into my review of the film.
Synopsis
Enola Holmes 2 picks up roughly where the first film ended. Basically in the space of a quick montage we see how Enola (Bobby Brown) and Sherlock (Cavill) have progressed. Whereas Sherlock is still drowning in cases, Enola can barely get one. However all that changes when a young girl enlists Enola’s help to find her missing adopted sister. Soon, Enola is plunged into a web of lies, deceit, fraud and murder plots in London as she and Sherlock try and find the culprit before it’s too late.
In the midst of this high stakes plot, Enola also has to deal with her sort of lover Lord Tewkesbury and the least obviously corrupt policeman you’ll ever see, Superintendent Grail. Oh also sidenote, Enola Holmes 2 does have a good cast to support the main players and I may touch on this later…..Anyway without further ado let’s get into the analysis portion of the review now.
Analysis
Millie Bobby Brown’s Performance in Enola Holmes 2
I’m going to start off my analysis of Enola Holmes 2 with the elephant in the room: Millie Bobby Brown’s performance as the titular Enola. Now is she still just as charming and funny as the first film? And yes she definitely is. Evidence of this is abundant throughout the film especially in the narration. Frequently throughout the film, we see montages narrated by Enola. Here, Millie Bobby Brown is hilarious to listen to with her effortlessly conveying sarcasm without it ever becoming annoying.
Another key example of Millie Bobby Brown’s performance in Enola Holmes 2 is her chemistry with Henry Cavill’s Sherlock. One example of this is when Enola bumps into her drunken older brother as she is walking through London at night. Here we see despite his stupor he manages to seem incredibly charming with a wonderful running gag. This involves Sherlock saying very inspirational things and then joking he should write them down. Here, Millie Bobby Brown shines in some relatable comedy. I say this because anyone who’s ever walked a drink mate home from a night out knows exactly how Enola feels. Now that is a connection I’d never thought I’d make in Enola Holmes 2….
Henry Cavill’s Performance in Enola Holmes 2
Continuing my analysis of Enola Holmes 2, I’m going to revisit another previously discussed aspect: Henry Cavill as Sherlock. And just like his previous outing, Cavill is just as entertaining, suave and charismatic in his performance as Sherlock. Take for example any of the scenes where Sherlock and Enola work together. Here we see Cavill effortlessly conveying a certain air of suave charisma which shows exactly why he should be the next Bond.
It very much feels like a less is more performance because he’s more of a supporting actor to Millie Bobby Brown. This is further seen by his relentlessly sarcastic and reserved scenes where he chastises Enola but still Cavill manages to show that Sherlock still cares deeply for her. Take for example the scene where Sherlock reaches out to Edith in order to help Enola. This scene especially underlines that despite his gruff exterior he will on occasion reach out to save his family. Now can we please just have him as the next Bond……
Interconnected Universe in Enola Holmes 2
Concluding my analysis of Enola Holmes 2, I’m going to discuss the film’s slowly growing universe. No really apparently you have to have some sort of connected universe in your films….. Anyway, there are two key points which show Enola Holmes’s growing universe. So given you’ve been warned for spoilers here we go. Exhibits A and B of the interconnected universe are Moriarty and Watson. Firstly, Moriarty turns up to reveal that she was the one behind the mystery Sherlock and Enola were trying to solve. So since Elementary demonstrated a female Moriarty could work, Enola Holmes 2 attempts to pull it off.
However it feels a bit more rushed than Elementary when it’s just sort of dropped on the audience with very little build and some slightly vague hints. Anyway, the arrival of Hamish Patel’s Watson in the post credits scene more than demonstrates why we need a spin off series with Cavill and Patel. Basically Enola sets Sherlock and Watson up to be roommates. Now that sounds naff but once again Cavill acts it perfectly. His slow realisation that Enola got one over on him is frankly brilliant and yes Hamish Patel is great, albeit very briefly. So yeah expect the Enola Holmes cinematic universe to properly kick off soon I guess……
Summary
To summarise Enola Holmes 2, this is a fun, charming and suave return to the world of Enola Holmes. Whether it’s Millie Bobby Brown or Henry Cavill, the film manages to be joyously entertaining. It also gives you a reason to kill a few hours of your time on Netflix and it’s just a great film in general.
Overall Rating: 7/10 – Respectable
Target Audience: 12+
Content Warning: Moderate Violence and Gore, Mild Profanity, Mild Alcohol Drugs and Smoking, Moderate Frightening and Intense Scenes
Recommendation: Yes
