Enola Holmes: A Delicate Rage Against the Machine

From the second the opening theme of Enola Holmes began - a bouncy, cheery song that oozed personality - I knew it would be a great movie. Although it’s not perfect, this feature sets up a brilliant beginning to a promising series, based on the books by Nancy Springer.

 

Enola, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, is played by Millie Bobby Brown who delivers a lively performance – although, she is heavily assisted by the impressive supporting cast made up of dazzling names like Helena Bonham Carter, Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin, and even Harry Potter’s Fiona Shaw.

 

I did find that, even though I loved the character of Enola and what she stood for, I couldn’t help but feel that the tones of ‘Hey, look, she’s a feminist!’ were a little heavy handed at times. This does in fact directly pay off later in the story, particularly where Enola’s missing mother is concerned, but I was much more interested to hear more from some of the side characters such as Edith, who delivers the best line in the film to Sherlock: ‘Politics doesn’t interest you. Why? Because you have no interest in changing a world that suits you so well.' 

I’m unfamiliar with the books but I do hope she will be featured more in later instalments to the series.

 

The stylistic choices, such as breaking the fourth wall, and the colour scheme of the film, were brilliant, creating an inviting and visually appealing world. I did feel at times that the movie could have served better as a series – I actually thought it was a TV show when I watched the trailer, and I’ve seen a few others express the same mistake – especially as it did drag a little in the second act. However, it’s a greatly enjoyable piece of entertainment that viewers of any age would appreciate, especially in the uncertain and often colourless times that we’re living in.