Overall Thoughts: A little drawn-out, but overall just as fun and unpredictable as its' predecessor.
A couple of years ago, the pandemic brought out one of today's brightest young stars, Millie Bobby Brown. Ok, ok, we all know she got her start in Stranger Things. But, on second thought, her career really took off with Enola Holmes. A twist on the Sherlock Holmes story about his headstrong, stubborn, yet notoriously brilliant sister. And, if there's a sequel, you know you've got a hit franchise on your hands, right?
It seems like Netflix is really starting to hit the sweet spot here for four-quadrant filmmaking. Because Enola Holmes 2, overall, is another solid winner. Similar to its' predecessor, it's a blast from the past with a hint of modern flair in its' mystery-solving. And, yes, there's even some neat nods to the original Sherlock Holmes stories as well, which I will not spoil.
Brown is engaging once again as Enola. Sure, her breaking the fourth wall, self-narration tendencies aren't anything we haven't seen before (cough She-Hulk and Deadpool, cough cough). But, it does do a nice job connecting the events of the story in creative, engaging ways. Brown commands the screen, while also showcasing a soft, sympathetic side to her character at times as well.
The rest of the cast does a nice job as well. Henry Cavill (fresh off a couple of other major appearances) is a really solid Sherlock. Louis Partridge works as a great foil and perfect "opposite attract" for Enola as Tewkesberry, and Helena Bonham Carter is appropriately mysterious and interesting as Enola's mom, Eudoria. She's not as prevalent in the film as the first one, but I found that to be for the better here. She was a little "lecture-y" in the first film, but it was cool to see more of her tricks.
The setting, production design and costumes are all top-rate, all nicely reflecting the timeframe. Daniel Pemberton's music score escalates the exciting themes to new heights. There are a few crazy, but well-choreographed action scenes.
On the downside, the film does drag a little bit in its second half. It takes a little bit of time for the characters to make it to the final resolution, which does carry a fairly solid payoff (with some surprising and engaging historical context thrown in). The script carries a couple of surprises late in the game that help make up for the pacing issues.
In the end, Enola Holmes 2 is quite good, just about as good as its predecessor. And while it's exploits may be a little violent for younger kids, there's enough fun to be had here to make it worthwhile for older kids and families to watch together. And they might just learn something too. For those looking for escapist entertainment, it mostly delivers too.
Grade: B+
Is this movie family friendly? Enola Holmes 2 is rated PG-13 for "some violence and bloody images". There are a few scenes of intense action. A few explosions occur causing some property damage and casualties. Dead bodies (with a little blood on them) are found in a bed and in a chair. People are left bleeding from their mouths after one scene. Some manhandling here and there. Some perilous moments, threats, and falls leading to injuries. Someone is shot in the shoulder. Some cleavage-baring outfits. One weird, brief moment shows a young boy pleased with wearing a dress. Brief mild language includes "H***", "bloody" and "good g**". Some lying and deception. We see Sherlock drunk in one scene. Overall, this is a light PG-13 film and I would say ages 10 or 11 and up would be fine.
Is this movie family friendly? Enola Holmes 2 is rated PG-13 for "some violence and bloody images". There are a few scenes of intense action. A few explosions occur causing some property damage and casualties. Dead bodies (with a little blood on them) are found in a bed and in a chair. People are left bleeding from their mouths after one scene. Some manhandling here and there. Some perilous moments, threats, and falls leading to injuries. Someone is shot in the shoulder. Some cleavage-baring outfits. One weird, brief moment shows a young boy pleased with wearing a dress. Brief mild language includes "H***", "bloody" and "good g**". Some lying and deception. We see Sherlock drunk in one scene. Overall, this is a light PG-13 film and I would say ages 10 or 11 and up would be fine.
