How is Netflix's ‘Enola Holmes 3' faring?

‘Enola Holmes’ is one of the most popular and successful detective franchises on the OTT platform Netflix. Audiences are always eagerly waiting to watch the adventures of Enola, the younger sister of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Following that trend, the third installment of the series, ‘Enola Holmes 3’, has arrived on screen.

Did this film, starring Millie Bobby Brown, manage to work its magic on the audience like the previous two, or did it lose its way this time?

The backdrop of this installment shifts away from the foggy streets of Victorian London to Malta, a beautiful, sun-drenched country in the Mediterranean. This time, Enola Holmes is preparing to tie the knot with Lord Tewkesbury. But before the wedding bells can ring, her older brother, Sherlock Holmes, suddenly vanishes.

And that's it! Enola puts on her detective gear once again to find her brother and unravel the web of an international conspiracy.

The main driving force of the entire movie is Millie Bobby Brown. Her vibrant on-screen presence and her signature style of breaking the fourth wall to talk directly to the audience keep viewers engaged throughout the film. She beautifully portrays her on-screen chemistry with Lord Tewkesbury, as well as the psychological conflict of balancing her career as an independent female detective in the Victorian era against the expectations of marriage.

Although Henry Cavill gets less screen time as the older brother Sherlock, he commands attention with his regal presence whenever he appears. Furthermore, Himesh Patel as Dr. Watson and Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Moriarty deliver performances that keep the movie engaging.

While the previous installment showcased the backdrop of the women workers' movement at a London match factory, ‘Enola Holmes 3’—despite its lighter tone—wonderfully weaves the dark side of British imperialism, British rule in Malta, and the history of inequality under the 'British Raj' in the Indian subcontinent into the storyline.

With a runtime of under 100 minutes, the pacing of the film remains brisk, but the screenplay is somewhat weaker this time. The depth of mystery and the twists that were present in ‘Enola Holmes 2’ are visibly lacking here. The core mystery is so straightforward that an average viewer can easily predict what is going to happen in the climax.

Additionally, Philip Barantini has taken over the director's chair from Harry Bradbeer, who directed the first two installments. While he attempts to replicate the franchise's signature visual styles, the lack of Harry's unique direction and cinematic personality is felt. Due to the repetition of the same familiar comedy, familiar action, and familiar riddles, a sense of fatigue is noticeable in the franchise.

‘Enola Holmes 3’ might not be a masterpiece detective film, but it is an enjoyable popcorn entertainer to watch with family on a relaxed weekend.