Sherlock Holmes always gets movies starring him — in a turn of events, the Netflix Original, “Enola Holmes,” focuses on the other member of the Holmes family in a fun and feminism-driven film. 

The film was adapted from the books, “The Enola Holmes Mysteries” by Nancy Springer. While this film focuses specifically on the first book “The Case of the Missing Marquess,” there are five more books after. Netflix could continue to make a movies series from the other books. 

The film is about Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown), the much younger sister of Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin). Enola was raised by her mother, Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter), and her brothers weren’t around while she was growing up. One day, Eudoria vanished and left Enola all alone. Her brothers end up coming home, and they didn’t recognize her because it had been so long. Then they try to shape Enola into a “lady.”

Enola suspects her mom went missing for a reason, and she ends up finding clues in their house and follows them to London. She also sends out her own clues in the newspapers using code words and scrabbled letters in hopes to get a response from her mother.

Along the way, Enola meets Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) on his runaway adventure too, and this becomes a big subplot within the film. She helps him get away, and they begin to part ways. Even so, they keep finding their way back each other to solve conspiracy theories, surrounding his family.

While Enola is on her adventure chasing her mother and helping Tewkesbury, her brothers are searching for her, and they always seem to be one step behind her. 

Enola Holmes is an independent teenager and was taught many life skills such as fighting and quick thinking by her mother. She was not taught how to sew or embroider, but she is smart, brave and quick on her feet, which became helpful while solving mysteries.

Brown has outdone herself again. She was a great casting for this role. She fit the cute, innocent and strong portrayal of the role. Brown didn’t just star in the film, she was a first-time producer on it. Someone to watch going forward, she continues making a name for herself in entertainment. 

The ending was abrupt and didn’t have much leading up to it. There was more of a focus on the subplot so the film got off track sometimes. There were also some out of pocket ideas and scenes, such as a couple fighting scenes that didn’t really fit the tone.

The film has a unique narrative style, where Enola breaks the fourth wall and is talking directly into the camera as if the surrounding characters can’t hear her. This was fun the first couple times to develop a backstory, but halfway through the film, it got old. 

The costumes and sets of the film are very well done and fit the theme of the film. Since the film is set in 1884, the Victorian era dresses made sense.

Now, I am not one to usually complain about a movie being two hours, but in this situation, it is negative. The movie did not need to be this long, while it was upbeat the whole time, it did drag a little in the middle. 

Overall, the film was cute and upbeat and had a fun feminist twist. “Enola Holmes” had some minor flaws but managed to keep my attention the whole time.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars