Director: Harry Bradbeer
Writers: Jack Thorne, Harry Bradbeer, Nancy Springer
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, David Thewlis
Of course, “Enola Holmes 2” opens with a winking caption, imploring its audience to approach the sequel with the necessary perspective: “Some of what follows is true. At least the important parts. Such is the charming life of Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown), the little sister of Sherlock Holmes, at least according to author Nancy Springer's series of young adult novels, and a seasoned detective in her own right. Much of the pleasure of Enola's perspective is, just that, her perspective, a mostly fresh (and often feminist) spin on the whodunit subgenre that's enjoying quite a renaissance in recent years. So why does this sequel feel like it's pulling back on what made Enola so special in the first place?
The film reunites most of the main cast and crew from director Harry Bradbeer's 2020 Netflix feature "Enola Holmes," and while that initial franchise was playful and fun, its follow-up echoes the charms of the original, while which expands elements that did not require additional attention.
There are happy exceptions: the sequel spends more time with Enola's single mother (Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes deserves her beefed-up screen time), the steady progression of affection between Enola and Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) is sweet, and Brown remains a wonderful fit for the role.
Despite Enola's desire to escape the shadow of her famous older brother, her own film franchise fails to emerge from Sherlock's lurking presence; in fact, it is not entirely clear that it is even the intention. Co-star Henry Cavill becomes a dashing Sherlock and the scenes of him with Brown are adorable, but much of the film is preoccupied with diving into his own life and profession.
From revealing the identity of Sherlock's iconic foe (inevitably tied to the case Enola is trying to crack) to devoting the film's only post-credits scene to a (very cute!) Sherlock subplot, "Enola Holmes 2" is reluctant to go all-in on its plucky heroine. It all feels, dare we say it, quite elemental.
Like the first movie, “Enola Holmes 2” hinges on how quickly we get closer to Enola's feisty heroine. She's still prone to both decision-making and a barrage of fourth-wall-breaking jokes and punches, but Enola (and Brown herself) have grown up a bit. Since we last saw her, she's launched her own detective shop dedicated to finding missing persons (she's, as always, a "seeker of lost souls"), but business isn't good. She chalked it up to cheap prospects, her brother's outsized reputation, and sheer sexism and ageism.
Just as Enola is about to pack, a new client arrives: lovable matchgirl Bessie Chapman (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss), hoping Enola can help her find her missing sister, Sarah de Ella. Soon enough, Enola infiltrates the local match factory, filled with hard-working young women who are too busy recovering from a long-running typhus outbreak to spend much time tracking down Sarah. But Enola will not be dissuaded!
That sounds like enough material for an entire movie, even without knowing that Sarah Chapman was a real person who literally ignited major reforms in the world of matchmaking. (She really is a perfect subject for an Enola joint.) Then the film begins to show more, and more, and more material. Like its predecessor, "Enola Holmes" is over two hours long, but while Bradbeer's first feature film was forced to deliver all the backstory expected of a movie clearly designed to kick-start a franchise, "Enola Holmes 2” just feels heavy, bloated and complex. She looks nothing like Enola.
Much of the joy in this franchise, aimed at the younger crowd but with so much to offer viewers of all ages, is the energy that Brown brings to the character. It's the same kind of energy that Bradbeer excels at bringing to the screen when he's not distracted by tying up the many loose ends of Jack Thorne's script. Of course, Enola's case will intersect with Sherlock's. Of course, Sarah's disappearance is part of something much bigger. Of course, the excellent character actors who fill seemingly small roles aren't just there for fun. Something is afoot, and savvy observers know it and still hope to be charmed in the process. Too often, "Enola Holmes 2" forgets how to do it. Here's a hint: go back to basics for the next one.
Comments
Post a Comment