Enola Holmes (2020)

Director: Harry Bradbeer
Stars: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin
Runtime: 123 minutes

Synopsis: When Enola Holmes-Sherlock's teen sister-discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.

Performances: 8/10

Screenplay: 5/10

Editing: 5/10

Cinematography: 6/10

Score/Soundtrack: 6/10

Enjoyment Factor: 7/10

Verdict: For years now, Millie Bobby Brown has been labeled as her generation's Emma Watson. The young actress's charisma and wit are unmatched, making the role of Enola Holmes tailor-made for her as it very much reminded me of Watson's iconic role as Hermione in the Harry Potter franchise. Prior to it, she hadn't truly showcased the extent of her abilities on the big screen, only briefly appearing in the underwhelming Godzilla sequel released last year (an eternity ago!). That finally changed now, because she absolutely stole the show as the sister of the world's most famous detective struggling to survive in an unaccepting world, made even more difficult after the sudden disappearance of her mother.

It's simple: Millie Bobby Brown makes the movie work. Without her, the film's quirky style would've fallen flat, allowing the inevitable Hollywood clichés to take over and ruin the experience. Her performance obviously didn't make the narrative's flaws disappear, but rather managed to turn the film into one led by a very likable character, one you cannot help but root for from beginning to end, one that is destined to become a role model for many young children around the world. To achieve that, she invites the audience to take part in her journey by numerously breaking the fourth wall, a technique that entirely relies on the actress's charm. And she nails it like very few actors or actresses', novice or veteran, can.

The movie, which she also produced, is light, fun, and full of energy. However, and I already mentioned it, it doesn't truly offer anything interesting from a narrative point of view. The story, which unfortunately takes a direction I found to be disappointing, is easily the flick's weakest aspect. Another choice I couldn't get behind at all is Henry Cavill's casting as Sherlock Holmes, a role that didn't fit his likeness at all. Whenever he was on screen, which is thankfully not often, all I could see was Cavill and not the character he was hired to portray.

Despite its flaws, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have an unexpectedly good time with the latest Netflix original. It's not a film I'll necessarily be meditating about or revisit anytime soon, but it did keep me entertained for a couple of hours. It's the type of movie I'd recommend families to watch together and I for one cannot wait to see what Brown does in what I'm now certain will be a bright future.

FINAL GRADE: 6/10