Movie Review: Sherlock Holmes 2

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Jared Harris

Writers: Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulroney

Director: Guy Ritchie

The second installment of Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of the astute fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is an action-packed and essentially plot-less screenplay. Not only does this not live up to the first one, but it confirmed and exceeded my doubts from the get-go. Robert Downey Jr., and Jude Law’s interpretation of the bond between Holmes and Watson continues to be well accomplished and their witty banter is really one of the few redeeming qualities of this movie. It’s just a shame that I didn’t know what was going on for about 75 percent of their conversations.

The problem with this movie is plain and simple (unlike the convoluted plot line): the story is confusing in itself, and I’d credit the movie for my ignorance of what “A Game of Shadows” even means. The first hour and a half is mind-numbingly boring, but only because the back-and-forth of Holmes and Watson wasn’t enough to fill the void of a tangible plot. It’s unfortunate because the last 45 minutes of the movie are well-directed and written in a way that the twists unfold effortlessly. If there’s any reason this movie gets high ratings from viewers, it’s definitely because the film ends on a high note.

With that said, this film isn’t completely unenjoyable. Amidst the bumpy plot ride, there are some funny scenes and clever twists that unravel. Ritchie executes some phenomenal fight scenes, though the slow motion action shots are a bit overdone. I love the way Ritchie captures Holmes’ neurotic yet perceptive mindset through scenes where you see through Holmes’ lens. A scene in the end with Holmes and Moriarty is one of my favorite scenes of any movie this year, so there are some positives. Though with the underdeveloped characters and a story full of unnecessary scenes, perhaps it’s better if you  rent this one.