Enola Holmes 2: Film Review
Millie Bobby Brown returns as Sherlock Holmes’ detective sister Enola Holmes in this charming sequel.
Following her success with the Tewkesbury case in the first film, Enola sets up her own detective agency. However, she doesn’t have much luck – all her potential clients are shocked that she’s a young girl and would prefer the services of her famous older brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Just as she’s about to close down the agency, she is approached by Bessie Chapman (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss), who asks her to find her missing sister Sarah. The case crosses paths with one of Sherlock’s and prompts them to form a partnership for their investigation into the Chapmans’ employer, the Lyon Match Factory.
If you were a fan of the first Enola Holmes movie then you will adore the second one. It is exactly the same, but the story is more interesting and less bloated than the first time around. The central story is inspired by the real Match Girls strike of 1888 but the rest is fictional. But it’s not only a case of mystery-solving; there’s a cat-and-mouse element too. Enola stumbles upon a big conspiracy and knows too much so she must be silenced. She has to solve Sarah’s disappearance while evading capture so there are a handful of entertaining chase or fight scenes.
Sherlock has more of a presence in this film because he and Enola need to work together to solve their respective cases. He’s in it substantially more than the first film but not so much that he overshadows his sister. This is Enola’s movie after all and the whole point is that she’s trying to establish herself as a detective in her own right. That being said, it was nice to see them solving clues together without the annoying Mycroft (Sam Claflin, who couldn’t make this one) getting in the way. I wonder if Sherlock will have a bigger presence in the future given a couple of reveals later on. Cavill is a great choice as the character so I’d be happy to see more of him, as long as he doesn’t take over the show.
This sequel, once again directed by Harry Bradbeer, is a lot of fun. I enjoyed the visual flourishes – illustrations, moving newspapers, maps etc – and the jaunty score by Daniel Pemberton. Brown is clearly in her element as the charming Enola – a great independent role model for young girls – and oozes charisma chatting to the camera. The fourth-wall-breaking scenes are amusing but the device is possibly used too often.
I would have liked more of Helena Bonham Carter as Enola’s radical mum Eudoria because she is fantastic. Returning favourites from the previous film also include Susie Wokoma as Eudoria’s right-hand woman Edith, Adeel Akhtar as Inspector Lestrade and Louis Partridge as Enola’s love interest Viscount Tewkesbury, while David Thewlis and Sharon Duncan-Brewster join the cast.
Enola Holmes 2 is an entertaining mystery-comedy that’s far more interesting than its predecessor.
On Netflix from Friday 4th November