Enola Holmes 2 (12A)

Enola Holmes opens a detective agency in 19th-century London, following in the footsteps of her revered older brother Sherlock. Alas, the public doesn't take Enola seriously because of her tender years, while Sherlock is inundated with perplexing cases. Just as the teenager is poised to admit defeat, match girl Bessie Chapman hires Enola to track down her missing older sister Sarah. Enola stays true to herself and tangles with match factory owner Henry Lyon and police superintendent Grail.

LondonNet Film Review

Enola Holmes 2 (12A) Film Review from LondonNet

Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) opens a detective agency in 19th-century London, following in the footsteps of her revered older brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill). Alas, the public doesn’t take Enola seriously because of her tender years, while Sherlock is inundated with perplexing cases including an investigation into missing funds from the Treasury under the control of Lord McIntyre (Tim McMullan). Just as the teenager is poised to admit defeat, match girl Bessie Chapman (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss) hires Enola to track down her missing older sister Sarah (Hannah Dodd). Heeding the words of her fugitive mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter), Enola stays true to herself and tangles with match factory owner Henry Lyon (David Westhead) and vicious police superintendent Grail (David Thewlis). The case brings her closer to dashing Viscount Tewksbury (Louis Partridge) and mortal peril. Thankfully, jujitsu teacher Edith (Susan Wokoma) is poised to lend assistance…

Based on Nancy Springer’s book series, Enola Holmes 2 is an energetic and entertaining sequel that retains stylistic flourishes of the original (a heroine who repeatedly breaks the fourth wall to take us into her confidence) and deepens the bonds between the characters. Stranger Things star Brown injects plenty of vim into her spunky teenage sleuth while scriptwriter Jack Thorne plunders the mythology of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s venerated detective for a couple of satisfying reveals. The central mystery is handcuffed to historical fact – “Some of what follow is true. The important parts at least” – but returning director Harry Bradbeer sustains a brisk and breezy pace. The game’s most certainly afoot.

– Jo Planter