Just two years ago, Enola Holmes was the Netflix movie that nobody knew they needed. Starring Millie Bobby Brown, the streamer’s breakout star who also produced the movie, the action-adventure tells the story of Enola, Sherlock’s younger (and lesser known) sister who defies her brothers’ wishes as she sets out to solve the case involving their mother’s disappearance.
Aside from Brown, the film also boasts of a star-studded cast that includes Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Claflin, and Henry Cavill as Sherlock. And with the success of the first film, fans have been eagerly awaiting the streamer’s sequel. And now that it’s finally arrived, it even seems that the sequel will outperform the original, according to critics.
The Sequel Sees Enola Team Up With Her Famous Brother To Solve A Case
In Enola Holmes 2, Brown’s titular character is no longer just sleuthing for fun. She’s now a detective for hire with her own detective agency and after some time, she lands her first case. This time, Enola has to solve the mystery of a missing girl, which turns out to be connected to a case that her famous brother is also trying to solve.
“Because Millie was going to be two years older since we filmed the first movie, it was perfect to see and have this character grow up with her,” Harry Bradbeer, the director and co-writer for both Enola films, explained.
“I don’t know how many we’re going to make, but if you think of Enola Holmes, it’s a story of a young girl’s transition into womanhood and how she changes and deals with the challenges that she faces. So, we knew that having decided to be a detective, she was going to set out on a real case–and it was going to be difficult and messy.”
The second installment also takes place in the midst of the historic Matchgirls strike of 1888. In the movie, Brown’s Enola even allies with Matchgirls leader Sarah Chapman, who is portrayed by actress Hannah Dodd in the story.
“We wanted to find a way that brought Enola into contact with a whole new world and a whole new range of young women and girls,” Bradbeer continued.
“And when we hit on the historical period, the idea of the matchgirls’ strike seemed to be a perfect way of telling a story about sisterhood and union and having the courage to stand up.”
How Does Enola Holmes 2 Compare To Enola Holmes?
Enola Holmes premiered to much critical praise and this time around is no different. And whereas Enola Holmes received a 91 percent Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes after 207 reviews, Enola Holmes 2 has scored 92 percent, so far, after 73 reviews. It is also Certified Fresh, as fans may have expected.
The consensus among critics is that the new film “solves the mystery of how to make a satisfying sequel – and makes it look positively elementary.”
Critics Say The Enola Holmes Sequel Is ‘Satisfying’
Most critics agree that Brown hasn’t lost her Enola charm with Times (UK) also writing that the “feminist undercurrent of the first film is still there and this is a franchise with plenty of zing left in it.”
At the same time, Boston Globe also praised the lead actress’ performance, writing, “Enola doesn’t just break the fourth wall. She tickles it, winks at it, and tugs at its sleeve. With another actress, this would be annoying. With Brown, it’s charming.”
RogerEbert.com claims that the sequel is even “better than the original.”
That said, not everyone is extremely impressed with the movie. For instance, IGN notes that supposed poignant moments in the movie fell flat due to some of the monologue.
“Its social commentary is undercut by the way that it goes out of its way to tell us exactly where it stands on any given issue, making otherwise powerful moments feel belabored,” the publication wrote.
At the same time, it also pointed out that the film takes its time in possibly “laying the groundwork for yet another sequel” with the introduction of several new characters. This “winds up weighing down what was previously a brisk, welcome reimagining of the Holmes canon.”
Similarly, IndieWire is also less impressed with the follow-up film, writing that the sequel “just feels weighty, bloated, and convoluted. Not at all like Enola.”
And while the movie is supposed to be about Enola finally becoming a reputable detective all on her own, the publication also notes that “her own film franchise fails to emerge from Sherlock’s lurking presence; in fact, it’s not at all clear that it’s even the intent.” That said, Brown and Cavill are “adorable” as onscreen siblings.
Meanwhile, it seems that this won’t be the last fans will hear of Enola and her sleuthing adventures yet. As Brown has commented in the past (and as some critics have alluded to), the Enola Holmes property is being imagined as a franchise. And in case anyone is wondering, Cavill is more than happy to keep playing Sherlock too.
