Sequels, adaptations, remakes...they just keep churning out of the Hollywood machine every day (or so it feels). The latest star-powered adaptation/remake is the Ritchie-driven Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong. Does the case-cracking super sleuth reinvigorate the franchise with much fervor? Or does he just degrade himself to an 1800's mall cop? Whatever you decided, audiences will probably be split all over.
The main draw of the film is, obviously, Downey. Ever since Iron Man, he's become the new beloved face of film, with much right to be so. Downey is a great actor and especially excellent in Sherlock Holmes as the titular protagonist. Along with his loyal companion Watson (Jude Law), they must solve the mystery surrounding a powerful black magic-wielding criminal named Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong), who is sentenced to death, only to resurrect himself a day later. Thrown in the mix is Holmes' ex-lover Irene Adler who is part evil, part good, and all intrusive on Holmes' business.
The story is good and fun, as most of Sherlock's stories are, and with Guy Ritchie helming the direction, it rarely gets boring. This really is a Ritchie film through and through: thick British accents, crazy action sequences, and fast paced touched off with a hint of mystery and crime. Then again, notice that I named the mystery and crime last in that list...this was for a reason. Ritchie is a great director by all means, but more so in his own right. The films he usually produces (Snatch, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Rock 'n Rolla) have a very distinct style and flare that retain his trademark method of filmmaking. Sherlock Holmes is 90% action and fast, witty dialogue with little mystery-solving really going on. Most of the time there exists any actual mystery, Holmes just gives some wild explanation and solves it before the audience gets a chance to jump in on it. With that, it's really hard to delve deep into the problems with the story without giving anything away, but once you see it, you'll probably feel cheated.
And that's the core problem with the Sherlock update: it's not enough Scooby-Doo and too much Speed Racer. Sherlock Holmes could have been a fantastic intertwining of the two, meshing action and logical detective work into one whole film, but it just doesn't feel that way. Irene Adler as Holmes' ex becomes a bit of a drag with the overall storyline, too. She just becomes a nuisance, mixing things up for the worse...which is predominantly her purpose, but when you really think about it, the story would be nearly identical without her involvement, except for the increasing sexual tension between them and Sherlock's incessant need to chase after her. In addition, Watson, albeit usually just Sherlock's lackey, becomes such a boring character as well, and in the end it's just all about Downey as Holmes. Watson could be such an intricate and fun character, and while he is still pretty lovable as Holmes' right-hand man, he feels so underdeveloped and included only because it wouldn't really be a Sherlock Holmes story without him.
The writing is sharp and witty for the most part, mainly during the back-and-forth conversations between Holmes and any other character. At times, though, it may feel "too cool," trying to overhype Holmes' character as being the most suave and perfected human being of all time, being able to fight and talk his way through any situation (and single-handedly solving any kind of mystery thrown his way). Basically, Holmes doesn't need anyone, and neither does the movie; the title is perfectly accurate, it's called Sherlock Holmes because it is solely about Sherlock Holmes.
So all-in-all, Sherlock Holmes is a great action film with really tight direction. The acting is spot-on for all four major characters, if only that they weren't written particularly well. Downey really is the driving force behind it all, and Ritchie's style is well suited for the revamp, but he just didn't hit the right spot. Another exercise in missed chances and possibly just a quick cash-in for the holiday crowd, Sherlock Holmes is entertaining but forgettable.
6.5/10
-Kyle Shelton
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