Enola Holmes 2 (Netflix, 2022)
Enola Holmes 2 is a worthy successor to the succesfull franchise starter from two years ago.
Millie Bobby Brown apparently can do no wrong as Sherlock Holmes sister, who this time out starts her own detective Agency.
Directed by Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag) and written by Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials), Enola Holmes 2 has all the stuff you loved about the first movie.
It brings Victorian London to life in full splendor. It has tons of British charm and humor, some great acting, and a rousing story to boot.
And of course it has Millie Bobby Brown playing a role she is perfect for: talking to the camera, being sharp and funny, and also kicking ass in some pretty decent fight scenes.
It has Helena Bonham Carter returning as her mother and Louis Partridge as Enola’s love interest Lord Tewkesbury. It introduces the great David Thewlis as a new villain.
And of course it also has Henry Cavill (a.k.a. Superman) returning as big brother Sherlock, who is always working on an important case, while hardly anyone takes Enola’s endeavors at being a proper detective seriously.
Eventually she takes on a case of a missing girl, which is bound to lead her into hot water, and then it turns out that Enola’s case in actually connected to Sherlock’s. Which only adds to the fun.
Part of the plot is based on historic events from 1888, concerning Sarah Chapman and the Matchgirls’ Strike, against the mistreatment of factory workers. This adds a welcome bit of social realism to the entertainment it almost continually provides.
If Enola Holmes 2, like the first one, has a flaw, it’s that it’s slightly overlong and stretches out proceedings a bit too far.
Minor quibbles aside, this is a jolly good movie with the money definitely on the screen. I think it is safe to say that in a couple of years we can expect a third Enola Holmes movie.