Director: Guy Ritchie
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law & Mark Strong
A fun, entertaining outing for the literary legends which, despite a weak plot, is still entertaining due to winning performances from Downey Jr. and Law and the chemistry between them as Holmes and Watson.
No stranger to live action adaptations with many films, television dramas and television series made based on the books or merely featuring the character, Sherlock Holmes is one of England’s most popular and enduring literary characters. While there have been many adaptations featuring the character in the past varying in quality, the latest cinematic adaptation by Guy Ritchie is, perhaps, the most obviously commercial attempt at bringing the character to screen that any previously and that it features, no matter how likeable he may be, an American actor in the role of Holmes, this film arrives with much expectation and trepidation surrounding it’s quality. The results are quite mixed. While possessing a plotline somewhat unworthy of the infamous detective, the casting actually proves to be the film’s saving grace with Downey Jr. highly entertaining as Holmes and his chemistry with co-star Law as Watson makes the film enjoyable in spite of its flaws.
Following the completion of their last case together, Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and Watson (Law) prepare for life apart as Watson prepares himself for marriage. When Lord Blackwood (Strong), the perpetrator of the crimes in Holmes’ last case, seemingly comes back from the dead after his execution, Holmes and Watson are brought back together to investigate and uncover to uncover how it could have occurred, what Blackwood’s plot is and what Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), a thief and former lover of Holmes, has to do with these events.
More humorous and tongue-in-cheek in approach than the original stories on Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes may offend purists but it is nevertheless entertaining. The development of the relationship between Holmes and Watson is the film’s most satisfying aspect giving it jovial tone that feels in part like The Odd Couple but with a few, sly, homo-erotic overtones that gives the bickering yet supportive partnership the feeling of a marriage as much as a friendship. Much of the success of the relationship can be given to Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law in their performances but, as good as they are, the rest of the cast suffers in comparison and the film’s actual plot lacks the interest of the characters with the plot itself actually intruding on the film’s more enjoyable scenes. The actual plot of Sherlock Holmes is generally uninspired with little mystery to actually engage the audience or the characters though the inclusion of Steampunk elements is occasionally interesting. The set pieces in the film are also mixed, succeeded best when infused with humour but often undermined by Ritchie’s frenetic editing style and some ropey CGI effects.
Downey Jr. gives a fun performance as Sherlock Holmes. While his attempts at a sophisticated English accent are frequently questionable, it actually adds to the humour in the film. Jude Law is also enjoyable as Watson, the straight man to Downey Jr.’s roguish Holmes and their chemistry together on screen is highly enjoyable with the actor’s own enjoyment, seemingly shining through. The rest of the cast are less enjoyable or memorable. Rachel McAdams is suitably attractive and lively as Irene Adler but distracts too much away from Downey Jr. and Law at times that she comes across as slightly annoying rather than engaging and Mark Strong plays the underwritten role of villain decently but his character and performance lacks either the charm or intimidating air of some of his previous roles on films like Body of Lies or RocknRolla.
Overall, Sherlock Holmes is a fun film with very enjoyable performances from Downey Jr. and Law but the underdeveloped supporting cast and disappointing plot means that the film does not wholly satisfy and is far from the best of Holmes adaptations though it does rank as one of the most fun.
Rating: 3/5
