Netflix’s film adaption of Nancy Springer’s Enola Holmes mystery is finally here. When Sherlock’s young sister, played by Millie Bobby Brown, discovers the absence of her mother, she starts a journey to get her back. The two hours long film feels like a trip with the narration of the amazingly talented Brown, who delivered a very rounded and charismatic performance. Harry Bradbeer stuns again with yet another spectacular piece of entertainment. He perfectly captures the oppressive time-period of the film and balances it out with a heavy dose of idealism to keep the story lighthearted and fun. Even though the mystery itself is a bit predictable, I found it to be a stunning change to Guy Ritchie’s complicated adaption. It’s clear the movie wasn’t made for older audiences, but I don’t see how anyone can not find it entertaining.
Enola Holmes’ feminist take is an important one. It managed to relate to audiences today and open the cast for more diversity. I wished that some aspects of privilege that Enola had and deliberately used were addressed and even condemned to a degree. But I understand the need of going too far and turning your main character into a Mary Sue. I loved how this movie is not on Hollywood's recent brand of feminism, where strong female characters don’t need or want a love interest. The film revolves around the story of Enola’s love interest in a way, and yet despite that, it never fails to remind you that Enola is the one in charge of her path here. And what’s great about her decision making is the mix of events that eventually lead to the different paths she has to get through.
Millie Bobby Brown shines as Enola and cements herself as a young force of nature in Hollywood. Henry Cavill and Sam Clafin are convincing as the Holmes brother, I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel dedicated just for them. I liked Louis Partridge as the love interest and Adeel Akhtar as Lestrade. Despite Helena Bonham Carter and Fiona Shaw's limited screen-time, they carried this movie. I would have loved to see more of Susan Wokoma’s character, there was a lot of missing potential with this one.
Enola Holmes is a fun, hilarious, mysterious, and aesthetically pleasing coming of age story, that despite being a time-period film, it still resonates with young audiences today.
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