“Enola Holmes” is a fun, unforgettable historical comedy that adapts the critically acclaimed book series of the same name by Nancy Springer. It tells the story of Enola, the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes, as she attempts to reunite with her missing mother and forge her own path in Victorian era England, all while trying to save a runaway noble from a sinister assassination plot.
Directed by Harry Bradbeer and written by Jack Thorne, the film stars Millie Bobby Brown as the title character and Henry Cavill as Sherlock, with a supporting cast consisting of Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, Susan Wokoma and Helena Bonham Carter. The film is currently available to view on Netflix.
After the early death of her father and the departure of her elder brothers, Enola was raised alone by her mother. As she grew up, Eudoria Holmes trained her daughter in the ways of hand-to-hand combat, forensic science and disguise.
Then, Enola’s mother mysteriously disappears on Enola’s 16th birthday. While Enola wants to go out and search for her mother, her brothers Sherlock and Mycroft forbid it, as they wish to tame Enola’s wild spirit and conform her to the societal ideal of a lady.
However, upon deducting a clue left by the missing Eudoria, Enola runs away from home and embarks on a journey not only to locate her mother, but to uncover the mystery of an enigmatic group she allied herself with.
Along the way, Enola encounters new friends and foes as she struggles to accept who she wants to be in the world.
Taking a page from films like “Deadpool” and “American Psycho,” Enola frequently breaks the fourth wall during the course of the film’s story. Not only is this mechanic hilarious, but it also gives the audience a clear, yet unique look into Enola’s investigative process as she encounters more clues. Each time she reaches an epiphany, the film gives a visual display of her deduction, complete with detailed drawings accompanied by complex explanations. In some of the more exposition-heavy scenes, the use of illustrations makes what could have been a boring info dump into a creatively inspired montage that succeeded in holding the viewer’s attention.
The script shines in balancing its central narrative with the sociopolitical environment of the late 19th century. Enola’s journey to locate her mother logically and organically brings her into contact with the circumstances that women like her had to face during this time period.
A major plot point in the movie is the real-life 1884 Representation of the People Act that would extend voting rights throughout the U.K. Eudoria is depicted as a member of a mysterious cell of radical suffragettes, and Enola even spends one section of the film in a finishing school that was common for many young women to attend. These scenes effectively convey just how oppressive and stifling Enola’s world is, and make her quest for independence all the more compelling and triumphant.
Though he has only limited screen time, Cavill makes a strong impression as Sherlock Holmes, showing a much more emotional and compassionate side to the character compared to other incarnations. Enola’s narration in Sherlock’s introductory scene greatly builds upon his large array of skills and talents, but they end up barely being depicted on screen. While this is Enola’s story, the film would greatly benefit from a “show, don’t tell approach” in regards to her more iconic older brother. Claflin’s Mycroft Holmes diverges heavily from the novel’s depiction of a master detective of a higher caliber than Sherlock himself, instead being portrayed as a somewhat stereotypical British upper class man. Still, this does allow Mycroft to serve as a physical representation of the societal misogyny that our heroine is rebelling against.
Brown, who also doubles for the first time as a producer, imbues her role with a bright, youthful energy mixed with an eccentric, witty charisma. However, she is equally skilled at conveying the character’s more vulnerable side, but never losing her quiet determination. Even if period comedies are not your preferred genre, Brown’s performance alone is a compelling argument for at least one viewing of this film.
Acting opposite to her is Partridge, whose Viscount Tewkesbury exudes a kind but mischievous charm and plays off Enola in a friendship with palpable chemistry, even though the character himself could have used some fleshing out.
Overall, “Enola Holmes” is a fresh and insightful take on the Sherlock Holmes mythos, with a wildly entertaining mix of unconventional comedy, kinetic action and compelling characters.
