Enola Holmes carves its own identity by giving us more of what we already like about the Holmes family and making great use of its gender-swapped heroine. With Millie Bobby Brown as the lead, a satisfying mystery, and a couple of modern-ideas thrown in, it’s sure to spawn a long-lasting (and delightful) franchise.
Enola Holmes (Brown) is the youngest member of the Holmes family. Raised by her mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter), the 16-year-old’s observation, deduction, and fighting skills have been finely honed. Despite this, she’s been all but ignored by her older brothers Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin). They only come to see her because Mrs. Holmes has disappeared. Determined to prove she’s destined for more than what society expects of her, Enola investigates.
Enola is a smaller version of the world-famous detective but in many ways, she isn’t. She's more emotional, younger, less experienced, and a woman. That last point may not sound like much but keep in mind the setting. In this period, all Enola is expected to do is find a husband and churn out some kids. She has to work twice as hard as her brothers to prove she's brilliant. Even with her skills, she has to bring up the “Holmes” name before anyone will give her the time of day. That’s a neat meta element. She’s got deduction smarts but her forward-thinking mother has neglected to teach her about flowers, dresses, proper table manners, etc. She has her work cut out for her whenever she wants to be conspicuous. This is where her “partner”, the runaway Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) comes in. He’s her “Watson” and together they make a great team.
Director Harry Bradbeer (from a suggestion by Brown, who produced the film) frequently has Enola frequently breaks the fourth wall and detail the stages of her various plans through cutaways. We're following a wide-eyed, ambitious teen so this fits her personality but I don’t think the film needed them. You’re plenty satisfied just watching Millie Bobby Brown prove she's a great leading lady.
There are mysteries within mysteries and the characters we meet along the way do more than simply narrow the suspects; they also inform us about our heroine. Women and men speak to her differently than they would Sherlock. They tell her different things than they would him. It’s character and plot development at once. Then, there are the clues themselves. Eudoria’s trail of crumbs often consists of messages hidden inside anagrams. If you took the time to write down the letters and re-arrange them, you could decipher these clues. There’s gratification in knowing the film isn’t cheating. The fact that Enola does it so rapidly proves her intelligence.
Enola Holmes features a bright young star, the mystery has old-school charms and new ideas too. Every new clue makes you hungrier for more. Like Katniss Everdeen, she's going to be a favorite and a role model among teenage girls but there's something here for everyone. (September 26, 2020)
