Enola Holmes: Netflix Movie Review

Any high-budget video production around the character of Sherlock Holmes seems to be a surefire success these days. We saw it with the 2010 British TV show adaptation Sherlock featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman and with the American film series that had Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. This time we have a Netflix original that focuses on the less famous Holmes character — the sister, Enola.

 

Unlike the one showcased in the Cumberbatch TV series, this is a more friendly Enola played by Stranger Things star, Millie Bobby Brown. It's her movie and it constantly breaks the fourth wall with Enola also doubling up as the narrator. Her famous brother Sherlock the detective (played by Henry Cavill) and ambitious bureaucrat Mycroft (played by Sam Claflin) left home early while Enola is raised by their widowed mother Eudoria (played by Helena Bonham Carter). Enola is homeschooled in various fields like math, science, sociology, literature, coded messages and horticulture. She's even trained in hand-to-hand combat as well as basic use of weapons. Everything seems to be going swimmingly for Enola and her mother enjoying their comfy and enriched lives in the Holmes mansion in the countryside. That is, until her 16th birthday when Enola awakes to the knowledge that her mother has suddenly disappeared.

The young Holmes then takes it upon herself to contact her brothers to ask them for help to find their mother. Both Sherlock and Mycroft have not given much attention to Enola since they left home and do not see her for the individual she is. With Eudoria missing, Enola becomes the ward of her eldest brother. Ever the traditionalist civil servant, Mycroft can think nothing more of teaching Enola how to be a "lady" who is well-groomed and finds herself an influential husband. Sherlock doesn't agree but can't be bothered to argue over it and lets Mycroft dictate the terms as the official guardian. Less than amused at how her brothers react to this circumstance, Enola takes it upon herself to search for her mother herself.

As she follows the clues and escapes on a train to London, she meets her first friend in the outside world - young Duke Tewkesbury. The young man climbs out of some unaccounted luggage which makes it clear that he's a runaway too. Given his social stature, Tewkesbury turns out to be a hunted man and Enola finds herself helping the young man escape from his assassin. Jumping off a train to avoid a killer is a good bonding experience to establish friendship in any storyline so it works here too.

The rest of the film follows Enola investigating her mother's whereabouts while being chased by Mycroft and the assassin. She finally gets some real-world experience and stumbles upon a matter of much significance. The story is set in 1884 England and there is talk of a major referendum that would extend the right to vote to the masses. Elena finds out that Tewkesbury is somehow important to this cause which puts him in mortal peril and she takes a slight detour to save his life and expose his enemies. Along the way, she uncovers a rather sinister plan that involves her mother too. That's a lot for a 16-year old to handle but she's not just any 16-year old. She's a Holmes.

You'll have to watch the film to see how it turns out but I can say that it'll entertain you for most of its 2-hour runtime. But since it's on Netflix, you get the benefit of skipping through the slower bits if you like and there are very few. This movie clearly addresses the shift in perception that challenges the patriarchy which states women as the lesser gender. It takes a powerful female protagonist and pits her against the same evils and pitfalls as any of the usually male hero characters would. There is enough social commentary to make it relatable but still keeping it light-hearted for the younger audiences. Enola is the female super sleuth that could inspire more young girls than any of the male characters might have. Ms Brown is already synonymous with strong female leads with her character in another Netflix hit and it seems she is continuing with that theme as part of her acting career. While I wasn't expecting much from Cavill, I was pleasantly surprised to see him pull off Sherlock quite well in the few scenes that featured him. The actor who played Mycroft did no wrong except having the misfortune of playing a character that has been defined in modern-day entertainment by both Stephen Fry (Downey Jr. movies) and Mark Gatiss (Sherlock TV series). As expected, Helena owned the character of Eudoria in every scene she had and for newcomers to the Holmes timeline, it felt like a great fit. Louis Partridge did okay as Tewkesbury but it was the menacing screen presence of Burn Gorman as Linthorn the assassin that made the movie feel complete. 

Enola Holmes is a snappy, optimistic and beautifully shot movie that makes for a good Sunday afternoon watch even as an adult. I expect the younger viewers to find it even more fun to watch and give it some repeated viewing too. I rate it at a solid 8 crumpets out of 10.