Enola Holmes 2 Review: Utterly charming, clever sequel

Enola Holmes 2 is a better film in almost every way than the first film.

The 2020 film featured a charming Millie Bobbie Brown in the lead role. Henry Cavill‘s exciting take on Sherlock Holmes. The chemistry between Brown and Louis Partridge‘s Tewkesbury was adorable. Unfortunately, Enola’s search for her missing mother dragged the story down and Mycroft’s refusal to give his sister any agency was frustrating. All of the positive elements remain in this superior sequel. Happily, Mycroft is nowhere to be found.

Enola Holmes 2 takes the first film’s strengths and builds an intriguing mystery around the matchstick girls, which was an actual labor strike in the 1800s. Cavill is given more to do as Sherlock, but mostly in service of Enola’s case. Her case involves a missing woman who worked at a match factory, where women are dying due to white phosphorous exposure. Sherlock has his own case that stifles him, but it’s Enola’s case that allows Sherlock to develop a lead. The brother-sister relationship is wonderful and allows Sherlock to actually change in the story.

The one issue is the mystery itself goes the predictable route as far as the culprit is concerned.

Brown is even better as Enola than in the first film. Innately likable, but still trying to connect to society like Sherlock, she takes on the added pressure of breaking through a male-dominated film. She’s moved to London to start her own detective industry. Yet all of the would-be clients either believe she’s Sherlock’s assistant or lacks the fortitude due to being a woman.

Overall, director Harry Bradbeer and writer Jack Thorne have concocted an interesting Holmes franchise brimming with energy.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the newest Enola Holmes mystery. There may be some minor spoilers. Enola Holmes 2 is available to stream on Netflix.

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A new detective agency in Enola Holmes 2

Enola is eager to step out of her brother’s shadow while occupying the same city as her brother Sherlock. A parade of potential clients floods her office. However, they either scoff that she’s a woman or over the fact she isn’t working with her brother.

Eventually, a young girl enters. Bessie can’t pay, but her sister has gone missing from the matchstick factory. Enola takes the case. She goes undercover at the matchstick factory and the Paragon Theatre where she discovers the missing girl, Sharah Chapman, is more than meets the eye.

During the investigation, Enola is framed for murder by Grail played by David Thewlis. Grail is posing as a detective to stop Enola’s investigation into the matchstick factory. Thewlis is a great foil for Brown. The murder investigation paves way for Sherlock’s further involvement in his sister’s case.

Sherlock’s humanity

Cavill retains the detachment from societal norms and the brilliance of the famous sleuth. He adds just a touch of longing for something more.

In Enola Holmes 2, Cavill really is a co-lead opposite Brown. Only Brown has more screen time and there are even scenes featuring just Sherlock trying to case the scene where his sister is framed for murder. The chemistry is terrific between Brown and Cavill throughout.

Similar to Enola, Sherlock has his own case involving a mystery person moving funds around. He’s not having much luck finding leads and has resorted to drinking at a tavern when he meets Enola. His sister escorts a drunk Sherlock home. Eventually, these two cases dovetail together.

Cavill brings just a shade of humanity to Sherlock. The way Sherlock smiles with admiration when Enola succeeds is endlessly endearing. He’s so impressed by Enola he even misguidingly offers a partnership called Holmes & Holmes. Enola isn’t looking to partner up, she simply wants her brother’s respect, which by offering this partnership he accomplishes. While Sherlock is disappointed, it’s a step toward forging connections with others, which is a good step.

Everything about Cavill’s Sherlock works so well you almost wish he had his own film or miniseries. Cavill even gets an action sequence as Sherlock in Enola Holmes 2. Fortunately, Brown is so good as Enola that her presence would be missed.

The matchstick game

Taking a quite literal page out of actual history with the matchstick girls gives Enola Holmes 2 a grounded quality lacking in the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring miniseries and the Robert Downey Jr.-Guy Ritchie films. In the 1800s, a group of women went on strike after several women died due to white phosphorous fumes.

Enola Holmes 2 changes this story into a mystery. Girls are suddenly vanishing from the factory. One of the missing women, Sarah Chapman, seemed to be on the verge of revealing how much the factory owners knew when she disappeared. Enola and Sherlock putting together the pieces of the puzzle are fun.

However, once the story begins to move, it becomes clear who the culprits are in this mystery. The characters in question are too prevalent not to notice, but also don’t seem to factor heavily into the plot.

Enola Holmes 2 final thoughts

Enola Holmes 2 isn’t a groundbreaking cinematic accomplishment, but it’s a decent mystery genre film that takes a page out of actual history and is filled with endearing performances.