 Official release poster |
With a great looking ensemble cast, Enola Holmes might attract you despite its lack of depth and character. But, surprisingly this must be one of the best, if not, the most unique depiction of the Holmes and London crimes altogether. Prior to this, we barely know anything about Sherlock Holmes' private life based on adapted screen stories besides his loyal friend Watson, his brother Mycroft, or else Holmes' platonic relationship with Irene. Few characters here and there if you dig more by reading his stories years after years but not more than that. Enola Holmes, somehow could easily break my underwhelmed expectation towards its story line. Before even explaining the plot and how it was so good, I think it's quite unfair if I don't acknowledge how good the cast is. Millie did a good job by being Enola, depicting how carefree and smart she is. Sam did a great job portraying Mycroft as a gentleman who works for the government and care about politics. Henry also did a good job by showing us how Sherlock would react in such case. And Helena Bonham Carter, what a queen. Since it was the first time Eudoria came to screenplay adaptation, this might set the bar quite high for the next adaptation.
The story began with Enola Holmes narrating her life and how things work with her life. Rules, behavior, habit, her upbringing, everything basically revolves around her. After all the movie was titled after her name. But that didn't mean that the rest of character didn't have enough time to show their intention. Holmes brothers, here, showed me different side of theirs. Sherlock was always described as a lone wolf, didn't want to be attached, especially with feelings, but made few exceptions for people he dear the most. Watson, for example, Irene, or at some point Mycroft by having drink together once every few weeks. Mycroft, on the other hand, was always described as a smarter yet more preserved version of Sherlock. Working for government, interested in politics, unlike Holmes, and appearance-wise is way more organized. But, strangely, Mycroft didn't show any of that here. Mycroft was described as a person who will gladly conform to norms and try as hard as possible to fit in. Something that none of the Holmes should have actually had. But I also realize this is a younger version of Mycroft, so I suppose he might change and care less about anyone as time goes by. And then there was Eudoria, the reason behind all this family reunion. She was carefree, yet calculated. She had a sincere relation with her daughter. She didn't conform to society, later confirmed by Enola's teacher, Miss Harrison that Miss Harrison and Eudoria were both friends back then. So for her, it was like looking back to those "horrible" moments and saw everything about Enola resembles her mother in an uncanny way.
The story went further than just solving case and mystery to explaining how things in family work, even though it's a peculiar one. Mycroft with all of his wittiness, strictness, logic, set of rules, and there on the opposite side stands Sherlock, with tolerance, understanding, and care though in very subtle-almost unseen way. The plot, although has separated section telling things and characters point of view, mainly focuses on Enola's well being and guessing what would Enola do next. It also shows, despite being a woman, Enola didn't want to be like any other women who should go to boarding school and marry a well-educated man from rich family. This escape made both of her brothers realized that Enola could look after herself, and Enola accidentally found a boy (which I won't write down cause it will spoil the whole plot). This movie was telling about how men, and women at some point, should treat women the way they should be treated, as equal. Something way more ahead than the time given the setting was in the Victorian Era. But, what I like the most is that it told the viewers about this without trying to dictate the viewers unlike some other "feminism" movies that seemed to force the ideology to the point it's bugging.
The movie also didn't lose its romantic side without being too much by showing us the right amount of intense love expression scene, which was so Victorian-ish. Besides, the movie also ended with so many questions left unanswered. Will Enola be a detective? How's her relationship with "that lover"? And how's life aftet Sherlock decided to take care of Enola and told Mycroft to give Enola's custody to him? (Yeah Mycroft granted his wish).
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