I enjoyed the first two “Enola Holmes” films, largely thanks to Millie Bobby Brown, who’s terrific in the title role of Sherlock’s younger, detective sister. She pulls-off the “breaking the fourth wall” commentary with ease. The first “EH” (released in 2020) was fun. The 2022 sequel was a little more sophisticated and had some legitimate layers.
“Enola Holmes 3” picks-up a few years later, with Enola set to marry Tewkesbury (played by Louis Partridge) in Malta. But is she ready to walk down the aisle? There are some reservations that cause a delay in the ceremony, including news that Sherlock has gone missing. Enola sets-out to find him and quickly discovers there’s much more going on.
The story, as a whole, is the weakest and most elementary of the trilogy, relying too heavily on the previous installments (plenty of clips, along with graphics and quick edits). There are some surprises, including character appearances and plot developments, but not every aspect feels satisfying. The script (from returning writer Jack Thorne) absolutely loses steam in the second half, and director Philip Barantini (who takes over for Harry Bradbeer) doesn’t have a firm handle on the character arcs, as well as the film’s flow.
But through it all, Bobby Brown is as good as ever. And if you’ve been with this saga from the beginning, you’ll enjoy seeing her take-on new challenges and accomplish new goals, as she continues to grow up. Several stand-out scenes are quiet conversations between her and someone else. “Enola Holmes 3” makes a strong case for being the conclusion to the franchise, but I wouldn’t mind another chapter in maybe four or five years — as long as Bobby Brown still wants to star and the script has more oomph.
LCJ GRADE: C+
Running Time: 105 min.