Enola Holmes 2

We are rarely surprised lately by American blockbusters, whether they are released in theaters or directly on a streaming platform like Netflix, as these films are too often conceived as luxurious marketing products in which spectacular scenes or transcendent special effects come to mask the poverty of a too simplistic scenario or to serve tailor-made roles for world stars with an oversized ego and often more known for appearing on the cover of a fashion magazine than for being real actors. We loved the first part of the adventures of Enola Holmes and we were hoping for a sequel, which may not be as successful but which turned out to be an effective film. However, we have to admit that this sequel surpasses the first part in all respects, starting with a plot that keeps us on the edge of our seats and especially the overexcited presence of Millie Bobby Brown, who shows once again that she is not only the cult character Eleven in the inescapable series Stranger Things.

While the first part allowed us to discover the little sister of Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill perfect in his role) and how she was able to solve her first case and assert herself as an ingenious detective and able to get out of the most dangerous situations with dexterity, this sequel picks up some time later. While her brother is the most famous detective in London and its surroundings, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) has opened her own detective agency but has difficulty finding clients, remains in the shadow of her brother and especially in an era when women were not recognized as the equal of men to make a name for themselves. While she is about to give up and close her agency, a young girl contacts her and despite the fact that she is poor and has no money to pay Enola Holmes agrees to help her find her missing sister. Nothing could have predicted that this investigation would turn out to be more complicated than expected and propel Enola into a dangerous world. From a match factory in London, to music halls, to the upper echelons of London society, this new investigation will show once again that Enola Holmes is not only as brave as she is intelligent, but also as observant as her older brother. 

Enola Holmes 2 turns out to be a perfect sequel as all the important elements are again present. The cast includes Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter in important roles, the same director Harry Bradbeer, the same gifted writer Jack Thorne, the same director of photography Giles Nuttgens, the same editor Adam Bosman and above all the same composer Daniel Pemberton. The result is a film chiseled with such precision and such a sense of rhythm that from the moment it was discovered it became a cult film to be seen again and again.  Far from being a simple sequel calibrated to perfection, it is also a film that celebrates the strength, courage and beauty of women. Whether they come from a proletarian background and work in a poorly paid factory, whether they are housewives or young women with angelic charm and courage, Enola Holmes captures our attention without letting it go at any time. Once again, Millie Bobby Brown proves to be an excellent actress with an undeniable magnetism on screen. 

While in the first part the presence of Sherlock Holmes was only anecdotal, the character played by Henry Cavill (whom we can only congratulate for having taken on the role of Superman in the cinema) gains in thickness and especially occupies a more important supporting role. By adapting to the screen the literary saga The Mysteries of Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer, the film finds intact all the charm of the great adventure films that rocked our childhood. Many actors have played the character of Sherlock Holmes in movies and television, such as Michael Caine, Peter Cushing, Robert Downey Jr., Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch  but it must be said that the actor Henry Cavill is perfect in this role and has both the intelligence and strength to succeed in his investigations. The character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the major inspirations for the creators of Batman and the interpreter of Superman is a perfect tribute to the creator of this cult character. Moreover, the perfect on-screen chemistry between Henry Cavill and the young actress Millie Bobby Brown gives the film a very special aura.

The originality of this film is to see its main character speaking directly to the audience by sharing his fears and bitterness. The bond that is created with the audience is immediate and we spend an excellent moment with the only regret of not having been able to discover this film in the cinema. While many Netflix films have the chance to be screened in theaters, especially in Los Angeles, we would like this example to be followed in other European cities like Paris. Certainly Netflix holds there an important cinematographic saga of which we are impatiently waiting for the new films and the mid-title scene at the end easily reinforces our expectation for other films knowing that seven books have been written (the last one to date Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche has been published in 2021). An advice, go see this movie on Netflix you will spend an excellent moment of cinema as we would like to see more often.

Enola Holmes 2
Directed by Harry Bradbeer
Screenplay by Jack Thorne
Story by Harry Bradbeer, Jack Thorne
Based on The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer
Produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Ali Mendes, Millie Bobby Brown, Robert Brown
Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter
Cinematography : Giles Nuttgens
Edited by Adam Bosman
Music by Daniel Pemberton
Production companies : Legendary Pictures, PCMA Productions
Distributed by Netflix
Release date : 4 November 2022 (Worldwide)
Running time : 129 minutes

Seen on November 04, 2022 (Netflix)

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