Enola Holmes 3, the latest installment in the Netflix movie series, is a disappointing addition to the franchise. While the first two movies were delightful surprises in a sea of forgettable streaming content, Enola Holmes 3 feels like a flat, wedding-centric side story with a mystery that exists out of obligation. The film's narrative fails to engage with its central dilemma of whether or not marriage is right for the young detective, Enola Holmes, who has come into her own and is now focused on assisting the downtrodden and addressing social issues.
One thing that immediately stands out is the shift in directors. Phillip Barantini takes over the reins, and while Jack Thorne remains on board as the screenwriter, the result is a film that feels like everyone involved is simply fulfilling a contract. The performances and casting remain strong, but the overall quality of the film has declined. The fourth-wall breaking is significantly reduced, and the visual flourishes are less frequent, which is a shame considering the expensive Netflix money on display.
The central mystery of the film involves the kidnapping of Sherlock Holmes in Malta, and while there are some interesting subplots, such as the Maltese man Mikiel Mizzi's struggle against British dominance, the overall story is bland and unengaging. The film fails to deliver on the promise of the opening sequence and the cast list, and the whodunit department is a letdown for a movie in this genre.
In my opinion, the shift in directors is the main reason for the decline in quality. Barantini's approach to the film is less flashy, witty, and stylish than the previous installments, and the result is a film that feels flat and unengaging. The writing is also less sharp, and the story has almost nothing to say about Victorian-era marriage or its ongoing conflict in Malta.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the contrast between the promise of the opening sequence and the letdown of the final product. The film has some initial promise with the kidnapping of Sherlock Holmes, but it is weakened by letdown reveals and bland storytelling. The fact that the film fails to deliver on its central dilemma and the overall quality of the film is a disappointment.
One thing that many people don't realize is that the film's decline in quality is not just a result of the shift in directors, but also a reflection of the franchise's overall decline in quality. The first two movies were delightful surprises, but Enola Holmes 3 feels like a necessary epilogue or a 2.5, rather than a full-fledged installment in the series.
In conclusion, Enola Holmes 3 is a disappointing addition to the Netflix movie series. While the performances and casting remain strong, the overall quality of the film has declined, and the narrative fails to engage with its central dilemma. The film's decline in quality is a reflection of the franchise's overall decline in quality, and it is a shame to see a once-promising series fall short of its potential.
