Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams
Directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch)
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material
Appropriate for ages 13+
Thrill-seeking detective Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) and his even-keel partner Dr. Watson (Law) attempt to save England and the world from an evil plotting wizard that has apparently come back from the dead.
There is a synergistic relationship here in this movie between Director Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. that works in a grand way. Without either, I'm not sure if the film would have been worth seeing, but together they create a really entertaining experience. Both are about style more than substance. Downey Jr. brings a funny, witty sophistication to his characters that allows you to love and cheer for them, no matter what their flaws (and there are many). Ritchie brings a distinctive look and directing style that adds an edgy flair to 19th century London. Together, the marriage of the two styles just plain works.
Sherlock Holmes has never been told with this kind of verve, but I think the question arises - why not breathe some fresh life into a stuffy old character and setting? It plays almost like a comic book/super hero film with a nice mystery to it. Much of the film disguises mystery as supernatural, but never fear, the mystery rears its head which should make a second viewing just as entertaining.
There were some moments where you must forget about logic and just go with the story in the hopes that you won't be fixated on the holes later. Frankly, I was very forgiving to many of these moments due to the amount of fun I was having, but many of my colleagues were very keen on pointing them out. To go into them here would be to give away things that might make readers angry, but you may or may not feel the same way.
The supporting cast here is excellent with Jude Law turning in a more conventional take on Dr. Watson and the very sexy Rachel McAdams steaming up the screen as Holmes's love and hate relationship.
While the pacing is overall pretty good, at over two hours in length, it could have used a snip as it felt a tad too long. B+
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