ENOLA HOLMES 2

The budget, the stunts and the stakes are all raised in Enola Holmes 2, but it's to the detriment of the charms the original possessed.

As a lifelong fan of the stories of Arthur Conan Doyle, I was pleasantly surprised by the first Enola Holmes, which mixed fun, adventure and sleuthing into a predictable but thoroughly enjoyable tale without pretences. Enola Holmes 2 doesn't quite manage the same trick.

The budget, the stunts and the stakes are all raised in the sophomore adventure of Sherlock Holmes' younger sister, but it's to the detriment of the charms the original possessed. There is simply too much going on, too many characters to be (re-)introduced, too many attempts to conceal that the basic mystery at the centre of the story is just one giant ruse to set up the final act reveal of a familiar arch enemy.

As is the case with Stranger Things, star Millie Bobby Brown also has outgrown the role of the titular sleuth, while Henry Cavill - who has more screentime in this film - remains an odd fit as Sherlock Holmes.

Add a finger-wagging moral about female empowerment and you have a sequel that remains decent entertainment, but lacks the charms and nuances to keep you genuinely invested.

release: 2022

director: Harry Bradbeer

starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge