Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

 Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

 

7/10

Starring

Millie Bobby Brown

Henry Cavill

Helena Bonham Carter

 

Directed by Harry Bradbeer

 

I liked the first Enola Holmes (2020). The movie carved its own path, and it was gritty where it needed to be, creating a lighter side to watching Sherlock Holmes as the only know-it-all. The first movie had its problems, like a boring first act, and the character of Mycroft was just unbecoming. He was annoying and a drag on the movie. This movie took all the cues, removed things like Mycroft and a boring first act, and went the way you’d expect a good movie to go—Enola making her own way in the world while always being in her brother’s shadow.

The idea of turning this into a franchise was one I suspected, and I’m glad they did a better job here in this movie, in comparison to the first movie. Netflix has been struggling to create new movie franchises, and I think the old ones are always delivering.

Helena Bonham Carter is also here, turning up here and there to make sure Enola doesn’t get so drowned in trying to prove herself that she suffocates on her own ego.

In the first movie, Sherlock (Henry Cavill) was more in the background, letting things unfold. Here, his character is more of a supporting role, making sure Enola doesn’t go off the deep end.

The movie plot centers around the deaths of young girls at a matchstick factory. The deaths are seen as strange, and the girls working at the factory stole some papers that prove the owners are aware of the deaths and why.

Enola Holmes is trying to carve out her own name in the world but is struggling to get clients. Just as she was about to pack it in, a young girl walks in and gives her a case—her big sister is missing, and Enola decides to take on the case.

What seemed like a simple missing-person case turns into a conspiracy involving lords and Holmes’ arch-nemesis, Moriarty.

We also get to see Eudoria Holmes (Sherlock and Enola’s mother) coming to Enola’s aid when needed, and throughout the movie, we watch Enola mature. It was great seeing she and Sherlock work together and in parallel.

I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would, and if you liked the first Enola Holmes (2020), you’ll like this one as well, as it is done way better than the first attempt. You can catch both movies on Netflix.