I love Netflix’s new movie “Enola Holmes” and here is why you might too:
A quick synopsis of the film is that Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft, is raised by her mother and on her 16th birthday her mother goes missing. Enola goes on a mission to find her mother all while learning who she is and her own purpose in life. While on this quest we learn that Sherlock is not the only crime-solver in the family and that Enola, through the skills that her mother has instilled in her, can make it past any obstacle she comes upon.
As many know, Millie Bobby Brown who plays Enola also plays Eleven in Netflix’s TV show “Stranger Things”. I personally love “Stranger Things” and was expecting an amazing performance from Millie and that’s exactly what I got. I was so excited to see her play another empowered young woman on the screen and she did not disappoint. Her emotion was powerful and her humorous demeanor when cracking jokes was hilarious. Millie truly did a great job with her acting in this film and I look forward to seeing what she does next.
As for the film itself, I thought the plot was really well-written. It was unpredictable, in a good way. The audience is told from the start: Enola is looking for her mother. However, as the film progresses so does the adventure. Throughout the film, there are little lessons that Enola has been taught by her mother which are displayed in flashbacks to her childhood. This gives the audience a clear idea of where Enola is coming from when she uses the skills she has learned from her mother, which include undercover disguise methods and intense fighting tactics. These flashbacks weave together a more complete narrative of who Enola Holmes is and the true strength she possesses as a young woman, much to the surprise of her challengers.
I also think that this movie is amazing because it is set in a different time period: Victorian-era England. Enola is not like any other girl – brought up to be a “lady” and marry into a higher status which was the norm at that time. Instead, her mother teaches her to be herself and make her own decisions: for instance, one quote that I believe can sum up the best lesson of the movie is said by Eudoria, Enola’s mother, “There are two paths you can take, Enola. Yours or the path others choose for you.” This reigns true throughout the film, especially at times when she is thought to be helpless or vulnerable by the ignorant adults around her (her brother Mycroft is one of the worst offenders). I think it adds a nice touch to the film when they showcase life lessons that Enola learns, like this one, throughout her adventure because it can apply to anyone, even the audience.
All in all, I hope “Enola Holmes” makes it onto everyone’s watchlist soon because it is just that good. The acting, the setting, the costumes, and the plot all come together to make, in my opinion, a true masterpiece.