Lord Tewkesbury’s full name is quite a mouth-full, but this movie was underwhelming, to say the least. Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Henry Cavill, Helena Bodham Carter, and more, Enola Holmes (2020) had a lot of hype surrounding it. As a fan of Sherlock Holmes and mystery films, I was looking forward to this adaption, but I was horribly let down. If you are not under thirteen, I suggest that you pass on this film.
I do not usually write about movies that I dislike, because I know how much work goes into a film. It takes years of hard work and planning in order to finally have a film to share with the world. That being said, I have to be absolutely honest about this film. Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) narrates much of this story and talks directly to the audience. This made me feel uncomfortable. I think that the narration could have been done in a smarter, more successful way, that was not as confrontational.
I also think that this movie would have been better off as a T.V. series. Each episode could have had its own mini plot and then ended in a big finale episode. Although it is likely this movie will have a sequel, I do not think that it requires one. If a sequel is made, I would want it to have a different writer and director. Overall, the acting is perfectly fine, but something about the story does not pull me in. The characters are not fully developed and I feel as if I missed half of the story.
Additionally, the tone is everywhere. Sometimes Enola is ok with her mother leaving her, and other times, she is very emotional, as if the movie has just changed to an intense drama, when the rest of the film is a light and airy children’s movie. I do not think children’s movies are bad, but I expected this movie to have higher stakes and be targeted at a larger audience. I watched this film with my mother and brother, all of which are over the age of thirteen, and we all agreed that this film is meant for a younger audience. If I watched this film at the age of ten, I would have loved it! It has a great message and tells a moving story, but it is missing something, if it wants to be loved by a more mature audience.
I have read a few reviews where the reviewers loved this film. However, I cannot find anything about this film to rave about. I would change the timeline of the story, the structure of the plot, the dialogue, the directing, the character development, and so much more. On the bright side, the movie is visually stunning with the country and city scenery, and the clothing changes, but I cannot think of anything else to brag about.
What to think about:
One of the highlights of this movie is the over-encompassing meaning and female empowerment. I love this message and the relationship between the mother and daughter. However, I wish the film showed more of Enola and Eudoria together, and did not just tell their stories through flashbacks. But besides that, this film gave me time to think about the female’s role in society and how it has changed drastically over the last few centuries. Women still have a long way to go in order to be treated as equals to men, but it is clear that we are not going to be silenced. We will continue to push forward until our voices are heard loud and clear.
Rating: 5/10
Clearly, I was not a fan of this film. If it was not for the female empowerment aspect of this film, and the encouragement to be yourself and follow your own path, I would have rated this film much lower. However, when I think of this film as a story for children, I am more inclined to give it a higher rating, around 7/10. But if I compare this film to the Sherlock Holmes films I am used to, this film deserves a 5/10.
Although you could easily watch this film on Netflix, I would recommend watching something else instead. If you plan on having this movie in the background while you are doing something else, then this film might be worth putting on. Or if you have a young child that enjoys mysteries, they would love this! Otherwise, I would watch something else on Netflix. There are a lot of great other options.
Sentence Summary
When Enola realizes that her mother has left her, she is forced to make important decisions that will drastically affect her future.
See ya!
Thanks for being here. What did you think about this film? Let me know on Instagram or in the comments below. I always enjoy reading your feedback and your opinions. Although I was not a fan of this film, I acknowledge that not every film is for everyone, and that is perfectly ok. Everyone is different and is entitled to their own opinions. That’s the beauty of cinema!
Have a great day!
Arianna
Aloha Arianna 