TL;DR – This is one of the films where the presentation almost makes up for the lack of narrative substance, almost.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure –I paid for the Netflix service that viewed this film.

Enola Holmes 3 Review Introduction

I think one of those rare lingering joys of this streaming era is when they go full tilt into an odd concept with full vigour. One of these rare examples is the Enola Holmes series. Every few years, Millie Bobby Brown gets to pop into some amusing action and talk to the camera like she was auditioning for The Office, and it has been a delight. I quite liked Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2, so let’s see if the third film sticks the landing.   

So, to set the scene, in a beautiful cathedral in the heart of Malta, there is a wedding incoming. One slight problem: the bride is having second thoughts, mainly about losing her identity. Or at least the name on which she had built everything. But as Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) makes her way through the countryside to Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), she is intercepted by Dr Watson (Himesh Patel) to inform her that Sherlock (Henry Cavill) is missing, not just missing, but kidnapped.  

The Presentation

Well, it did feel like this was a film of two halves, but let us talk about the half that worked first. Overall, the strongest part of this film is its presentation. Part of that does come from the inherent strength of filming a movie set in Malta, in Malta. I know that does not sound revolutionary, but I just watched the Moana film, a Pacific story mostly in Georgia. Malta has such a rich history and landscape texture that it elevates anything that touches it. Today’s entry was no exception. Add to that a full costuming and art department to bring to life a world of the past, and you get a visually interesting film to watch.

Then we add to the presentation with a cast who is completely game for whatever is put in front of them. Yes, they didn’t have as much use of Henry Cavillthis time around, but then Himesh Patel steps up to fill the void. Helena Bonham Carter and Sharon Duncan-Brewster look like they are having fun playing to the bleachers. Also, it should be said that this is a role that has been hand-crafted for Millie Bobby Brown, and she completely owns it. Her meta discussions with the audience help drive so much of what makes this film work.        

The Narrative

Unfortunately, this means that we now have to talk about the second half of the film, which is the narrative, and it is here where things start to fall apart. Looking into it, I am to understand that this is the first of the three that is not at least tacitly based on a book in the series, and it kind of shows because there is a real lack of substance at almost any level deeper than a superficial glance. No matter what entry you are looking into the world of the Holmes family, what makes their stories stand out is that they are clever, and here everything felt so perfunctory. I know, part of the conceit of the story is that Moriarty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) is manipulating Enola via her emotions, but even then, it has no heft to it.   

Also, one of the less-than-subtle subtexts of the Enola films has been how it incorporates a social issue into the narrative. For example, worker rights in Enola Holmes 2. While they never delved particularly deep in their analysis in the past. The attempt to explore anti-colonialism in this film might be its weakest attempt so far. Can you write a film contesting Great Britain’s colonial legacy? You bet you can, because there is a deluge of information to use I would call what we get here lip service, but that might be unfair to other films that merely pay lip service to the topics they cover. Just one example of this mess is creating a revolutionary character for the independence of Malta, whose drive for the independence of Malta gets turned into a running joke by the end.   

Recommendation

In the end, do we recommend Enola Holmes 3? Look, it is not awful, and the cast, including Millie Bobby Brown, does rise to the occasion. But if you are looking for a mystery film, then it will be found lacking, and if you are looking for a film of general substance, then you won’t find it here. 

Have you watched Enola Holmes 3? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. If you liked Enola Holmes 3, we would recommend The Sheep Detectives to you because it is a competent mystery film with real stakes, twists and turns, and can show that even sheep can create an engaging movie with a real message at its heart.

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Bluesky at @Tldrmovrev, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

Feel free to share this review on social media and check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Enola Holmes 3
Directed by – Philip Barantini
Screenplay by – Jack Thorne
Based on – The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer
Music by – Aaron May & David Ridley
Cinematography by – Matthew Lewis
Edited by – Tommy Boulding
Production/Distribution Companies – Legendary Pictures, PCMA Productions, & Netflix
Starring – Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Hattie Morahan, Susan Wokoma, David Sterne, Joe Azzopardi, Robbie O’Neill, & Jason Watkins  
Rating – Australia: M;