In a less than surprising move to come out of Hollywood, the Netflix release of Enola Holmes poses itself as the latest in a string of spinoffs and remakes that have plagued the cinema landscape in recent years. However, the reinvention of the classic Sherlock Holmes tales take a backseat with the spotlight instead on the youngest Holmes child, found in the introduction of 16-year-old Enola (Millie Bobby Brown).
Enola Holmes herself is witty, charming and delightfully dangerous. She’s been raised in essential solitude by her strong-willed, progressive mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham-Carter), who mysteriously disappears the night before her beloved daughter’s birthday. The situation prompts the return home of the elder Holmes brothers, both of whom reluctantly proceed to subdue the spirited and uncouth Enola and also locate their equally wild mother.
Henry Cavill, the British hunk formerly known as Superman, plays the well-mannered and rational re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes. Though worlds’ away from the eccentric and anti-social detective we’ve come to recognise from multiple on-screen adaptations, the composure of Cavill’s interpretation contrasts nicely with the arrogant outbursts of the older Mycroft (Sam Claflin), who sports a delightful handlebar moustache and domineering, patriarchal outlook on the world.
Enola proceeds to take us on her journey of self-discovery, staying hidden from Mycroft’s search party, and newfound independence in an era where women lacked the type of freedom she and her mother crave. Simultaneously, she finds herself becoming entangled with the Viscount Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) and his own attempts to flee from an unlikely assassin. Drawing parallels with her famous detective brother, Enola showcases her code breaking ability and deductive reasoning skills as she moulds her own path towards essential liberation. The underlying references to the women’s suffrage movement of the 19th century paints an illuminating picture of societal changes and takes the audience on a journey of empowerment that weaves in pleasantly with the film’s overarching mantra of “our future is up to us”.
Enola Holmes is a wonderful standalone film that has made a splash on the scene as a welcome contrast to more typical films we see out of Hollywood these days. I’m interested to see how any sequels may play out, considering the likelihood that the novelty and ‘origin’ concept may wear off and potentially be diluted to a stereotypical crime-solving genre. But without having read the stories of Nancy Springer, I can only hope that the same undertones of whimsy and wonder remains, to keep viewers like myself craving more.
Enola Holmes is available on Netflix Australia now.
Watch the trailer below:
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