Downey as Holmes and Law as Watson First of all: Robert Downey, Jr. is to Sherlock Holmes as David Tennant is to Doctor Who. In other words, this isn’t your grandma’s Basil Rathbone, deerstalker cap wearing, armchair in front of the fireplace Sherlock Holmes, and thank goodness for that. Don’t listen to what the critics tell you; Sherlock Holmes needed a makeover. Downey’s Holmes provides a refreshing new look at this really rather shady character, showing the audience his rougher side featuring fist fights and drug abuse. But don’t worry, his wit is still as sharp as ever.
But let’s not forget Jude Law’s depiction of the more grounded, less suicidally rash Dr. Watson. Downey’s Holmes and Law’s Watson are an absolute delight to watch, and are the driving force behind the film. Sure, the special effects are great, but if there were a movie that was nothing more than these two men locked in a room together bantering, I’d watch it. The greatest strength of Sherlock Holmes is found in the gem conversations of this star-crossed bromance, and the actors who make it happen.
So come for the brilliant acting of Downey and Law, but stay for the style. Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes is the height of Victorian fashion and innovation dragged through the mud with an eye for the rising fad that is often titled “steampunk”. Wild Wild West attempted the look in 1999 and failed, as have many films since then. But Sherlock Holmes is the closest to embodying this grungy fashion without becoming obsessed with the gimmick of it. In the same way, the action and special effects are present and interesting without being overpowering. The movie manages to be a detective movie with a bit of action, rather than an action movie that attempts a bit of mystery.
The plot of the movie is one of the hottest topics among critics. The story does at first seem to be ridiculous, involving a mess of supernatural suspicions. However, an avid reader of Sherlock Holmes might agree that many times the story line is supposed to be ridiculous. It seems both in reading the books and in watching the movie unfold, the more ridiculous the plot line and the more that people buy into it, the more Holmes feels intrigued and prodded into discovering the truth behind the suspicious events. Your average crime won’t hold the attention of this impulsive detective, and you’re expected to know, like him, that the magic is just a red herring: the real adventure lies in uncovering the man behind the curtain.
Sherlock Holmes can be an enjoyable, thrilling experience, but should be approached with the right expectations and attitude. Don’t expect Basil Rathbone. Don’t expect Nigel Bruce. Don’t expect BBC Masterpiece Theatre. Everything after that, dear Watson, is elementary. So if you have a chance to catch it at the dollar theatre, do so! If not, look forward to its DVD release on March 30th.
