Review - Enola Holmes 2 (2022)

           Hey guys, Chuck here, and this is my review of Enola Holmes 2 , released this morning on Netflix, and once again starring Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Louis Partridge, Susie Wokoma, Adeel Akhtar, and Helena Bonham Carter, and featuring newcomers such as David Thewlis, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, and Hannah Dodd. Directed by Harry Bradbeer, this film is a sequel to the 2020 film Enola Holmes, and is based on the novel series The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer. 

          So, the movie picks up with Enola Holmes, younger sister to the detective Sherlock Holmes, as she sets up her own detective agency, but struggles to get any cases. One day, however, she does eventually get a case: investigating the disappearance of a girl named Sarah, who works for a local matchstick factory. As her investigation continues, Enola learns that she and Sherlock are working the same case, and that it's far deeper than a missing girl. And that's about all I'm going to say regarding the story, because to go any further would risk ruining a phenomenal mystery. 

          As a matter of fact, it's the mystery going on throughout this movie that makes me enjoy it more than the first Enola Holmes, because whereas with that movie, the mystery was intermixed with a wide array of subplots and minor story beats, Enola Holmes 2 centers on one mystery, which unravels further and further and goes far deeper than initially presented. And I think that, in a detective story like this, the mystery should be deep and complex to the point of keeping the viewer guessing every time. 

          Millie Bobby Brown shines once again as Enola Holmes, and I think she really gets into the role with real poise and skill, feeling much more into the role than she was the first go around. I also really liked her scenes with Henry Cavill as Sherlock, and he's proving to be my personal favorite on-screen version of Sherlock Holmes. And this is coming from someone who also enjoyed Robert Downey Jr.'s take on Sherlock Holmes. I like both, but if I had to pick which of the two I prefer, Henry Cavill or Robert Downey Jr, I'm going with Henry Cavill. 

        I also enjoyed the returning performances of Louis Partridge as Tewkesbury, Susie Wokoma as Edith, and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes. Honestly, Helena Bonham Carter is always a delight to watch, whether in movies like Ocean's Eight, Fight Club, or any of the many Tim Burton films she's been a part of. Now, one notable omission of a character from the first movie is Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes, brother of both Sherlock and Enola. And thank God for that, because if you remember my review of the first movie, I wasn't a fan of the Mycroft character, finding him to be too stiff. That was kind of the point, but I think that he went too far, and came off as kind of a jerk. However, one returning character that I definitely enjoyed more in this movie was Adeel Akhtar as Lestrade, who definitely gets more to do in this movie. 

          As far as the newcomers go, both Hannah Dodd and Serranna Su-Ling Bliss were terrific as Sarah and Bessie Chapman. I also enjoyed David Thewlis as Superintendent Grail, who is quite a unique adversary for Enola in this movie. But the big surprise for me is Sharon Duncan-Brewster, whose turn as Dr. Liet-Kynes in last year's Dune was a personal favorite, as Mira Troy. Now, I won't go into spoilers of who she really is, or what her role in this movie truthfully entails. All I'll say is that if you enjoy word games like Scrabble, rearrange the letters of "Mira Troy" and you'll get the name of a famous Sherlock Holmes villain. 

         I honestly admire the set and costume design in this movie, as again, the Victorian era is truly fascinating and it's always nice to see the look and feel of the era on screen. One interesting note is that  a couple of the plot elements, especially in regards to the matchstick factory, are pulled from real history. Admittedly, the writers did add some fictitious elements and changed the owners of the factory as well as the motives of the owners, but still, many of the things showcased, including the use of a more dangerous phosphorus form and the workers eventually going on a labor strike, were based in reality, which was nice. 

         Now, as much as a surprise as the first Enola Holmes was, I definitely find Enola Holmes 2 a step up from the original movie. Netflix and director Harry Bradbeer did an excellent job with this movie. Now, as far as a sequel goes, it's not yet been greenlit, but many are taking a guess at a possible third movie taking cues from the novel The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets. I won't really comment on that, as I don't want to spoil this film's post-credits scene, but I will say that if we do get a third movie, I definitely can't wait to see it. As for Enola Holmes 2, I'm giving it a rating of 5/5. Definitely check this movie out on Netflix, it's really good. 

         Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time.