Enola Holmes 2
Director: Harry Bradbeer
Writer: Jack Thorne
Based on: Nancy Springer‘s novels
Sequel to: Enola Holmes
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge, Henry Cavill, David Thewlis, Helena Bonham Carter, Adeel Akhtar, Susan Wokoma, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Himesh Patel, Hannah Dodd, Abbie Hern, Serrana Su-Ling Bliss
Seen on: 20.11.2022

Plot:
After the success of her first case, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) has opened her own detective agency. But people don’t really come to her, and if they do, they usually turn around on the spot when they see that she is a young girl. Enola is frustrated to say the least. But then a young girl, Bessie (Serrana Su-Ling Bliss), finally brings Enola the hoped for case: Bessie is looking for her sister Sarah (Hannah Dodd). Enola joins Bessie in the match factory where she and Sarah both work to look for clues. Meanwhile Enola’s brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) is stumped on his own case and mostly drowns his sorrows. But maybe the siblings can help each other.

The first Enola Holmes film was already entertaining, but the second one has found its stride in a much more comfortable way that makes it even better. I enjoyed it a lot.

Enola Holmes 2 still keeps the fast pace of the first film, including some twists, as well as several jumps back and forth in time, but it feels much less crammed than the first film. The film moves much smoother and despite being packed to the brim, there are moments where we can all take a breath. It does the film a world of good.

Millie Bobby Brown is still fantastic and has only grown more comfortable with her role as Enola. Her comedic timing is still excellent, but her passion and her soft moments shape the character nicely in a way that wasn’t as present in the first film. I also liked how her relationship with Sherlock develops. They both have a hard time opening up and relying on somebody else, but they seem both set to try with each other.

The story was also much less conservative leaning than the first film (which bothered me a lot when I saw the first film). Eudoria (Helena Bonham-Carter) gets more consideration in this one, and even though she still has a fondness for blowing things up, at least her fight for change is not shown as that unhinged anymore. And Enola’s case itself is much more interested in criticizing those in power than encouraging them to use their power for good. That are certainly developments that I appreciate.

In short, Enola Holmes is an enjoyable and fun film that hints at another sequel(s) to come – and I will be watching happily.

Sumamrizing: definition of a “romp”.