There are plenty of female-driven lefty films that are terrible. Ghostbusters, Ocean's 8, The latest Terminator, but Enola Holmes is not one of them, and it's brilliant. I loved the film, and that is due to the fact its an excellent, lighthearted, adventure, involving some good to great acting, especially from the main actor - Millie Bobby Brown. She is an Oscar winner in waiting, and I hope she leaves Stranger Things which is not good now, where she is not allowed to show her acting skill.
In Enola Holmes, she plays a girl out of her time, and yes, it does try to show how women were subjugated back in the 19th century, but it doesn't ram it down your throat. She is a kindhearted, intelligent like Sherlock Holmes, and she is not a Mary Sue as some have tried to say, she gets beaten up by bigger, stronger men. Early in the film, we see her mother showing her how to fight, and learning about how life is and not the dainty school for ladies.
Yes, it's about female empowerment, but so what if the story is good, I don't have an issue with that as many men do. It also does not make the mistake of making men look weak. Sherlock Holmes is a more compassionate Holmes, but that works well, I liked Henry Cavill's take on the famous character. Louis Partridge was also excellent and had great chemistry with MBB. I was worried that when he first showed up, he was going to be a moron that had to be lead around by a woman, but no the film made him intelligent, brave, resourceful and also compassionate.
Compassion seemed to be a significant focus of the film apart from Mycroft Holmes, I was not as keen on Mycroft and not because of Sam Claflin's acting, he just was a twat, and not likeable in any way.
The story is straightforward; Mother trains Enola, then leaves her, Mycroft tries to tame her and send her to a School for Ladies (Fiona Shaw was good as always playing the headmistress). Enola escapes dressed as a boy and Tewkesbury enters her life. Enola initially wants to find her mother played by the excellent Helena Bonham Carter, who still looks great considering she is in her 50's. HBC is not in the film enough to show all her acting skills, and hopefully, when they make the next film, they give her a larger role. Enola then realises she needs to help Tewkesbury, before finding her mother and the adventure begins.
Francis de la Tour was great in her small but significant role, and she reminded me of the excellent Diana Rigg from Game of Thrones.
Overall, I cannot see why anyone would not enjoy this film, you can watch with your family, and everyone should enjoy it. It has a low score on IMDb, but I imagine that is from the misogynists who don't like female empowerment films and Sherlock not being an entirely accurate version of Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes. But so what, I enjoyed watching this Holmes, Cavill is an actor who has improved every time he's doing a new project, and I'm looking forward to the second series of The Witcher.
However, it is Millie's film, she shines so brightly and is such a joy when she is on the screen. Please leave Stranger Things they don't let to show your full array of talents. Well done, Netflix, you've made a film I like, as most of your stuff is rubbish. I saw, in the end credits, Milly was a producer of the film so well done for crafting such an excellent movie, you clearly have many talents.
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