More Than Just Elementary

I’ve been a huge fan of Robert Downey, Jr. for years. He always seemed to be a guy who didn’t take himself too seriously but was also a stunningly good actor. I thought he was brilliant in Heart & Souls, but even more so when he got his Academy Award nomination in Chaplin. He overcame addictions to be a humorous yet charming lawyer Larry Paul on Ally McBeal and completed his comeback from the brink with lead roles in the hilarious Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and the awesome double dip of Iron Man and Tropic Thunder.

When I first heard that Downey had been cast to take on the iconic role of Sir Arthur Conan Doye’s famous detective Sherlock Holmes, I think I might have lost my mind for a few seconds. After all, Downey already proved he could provide an excellent English accent in Chaplin, and I thought he had the perfect energy and weirdness necessary to portray the quirky Holmes. Partnering him with the equally brilliant Jude Law as his own Dr. John Watson and having the film directed by Guy Ritchie only made me want to watch this film more.

In Victorian England, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson prevent a ritual sacrifice being conducted by parliament member Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). When Blackwood is sentenced to be hanged, he promises Holmes that he shall return from the grave and cause even more havoc in London. With no new cases to solve and Watson moving out of their flat on 221B Baker Street, Holmes falls into depression and even bets on himself in boxing matches. When Blackwood’s crypt mysteriously opens, Scotland Yard enlists Holmes and Watson to help them prevent a panic and to stop Blackwood. With the aid of Holmes’ old flame Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), they uncover a plot to cause terror and overthrow governments on both sides of the Atlantic.

In the first few minutes of Sherlock Holmes, we immediately see that this isn’t your dad (or even your granddad’s) version of the character. By taking the audience into how Holmes thinks, analyzes situations, and comes up with solutions, director Ritchie also gives us a new way to appreciate the detective’s mind at work. Downey doesn’t don the famous deerstalker hat of Holmes, nor does he say “Elementary, my dear Watson,” but that does not take away from the fact that he is the most “fun” Sherlock Holmes on film ever. Yes, he seems to be playing an English version of his Tony Stark alter ego from Iron Man, so what? The reason why he’s such an effective Holmes is because of the energy that only Downey could bring to the character and I, for one, loved it.

The chemistry between Downey and Law was crucial to make this movie work and luckily, they do have great chemistry together. Law’s Watson isn’t some bumbling oaf. Rather, he is a former soldier, respected physician, and can defend himself in a scrap. In that sense, he is Holmes’ equal and complements the detective quite well. Law doesn’t steal scenes from Downey (even though a star of his magnitude could if he wanted to) and that preserves the integrity of the title character.

Strong has a (pardon the pun) strong resemblance to Andy Garcia, but that doesn’t take away from his menacing performance as Blackwood. The dark features and the deep voice add to his creepiness. I’ve heard complaints that there are parts of the film that drag or get boring, and I noticed where one might say that. However, I also thought those parts were needed in order to explain Blackwood’s background and what his motivation was for going down that path. The glimpses into England during the reign of Queen Victoria were also entertaining since it doesn’t gloss over the grimy state of the nation while also showing the construction of the famous Tower Bridge. If I had one criticism of the movie, it’s that McAdams’ Adler was underutilized and certainly could have done more with Downey and Law. Yes, she’s definitely eye candy, but McAdams is also a good actress and Ritchie should have remembered that.

I felt that Sherlock Holmes was a fun film and definitely brought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creations into the 21st century. The roughhousing and explosions may not have been part of the original stories, but the team of Ritchie, Downey, and Law make it work in the end. I can’t wait for the sequel.