Wick's Review

Summary - Great 4.0

Rock ‘em, sock ’em Holmes: Brilliant star Robert Downey Jr. turns the mythical detective into an action hero of the first order in Guy Ritchie’s rousing movie. Though a good show, its Jonesian hyper-reality might not be to every taste, notwithstanding today’s action movie fan expecting this sort of surrealism.¹

An origin story, it presents Holmes and Jude Law’s Dr. Watson as admirably un-dandified brothers-in-arms, their jocular interplay providing most of the movie’s charm. Sadly, their lackluster female counterparts are charm deficits. Fortunately their first rate opponent – Mark Strong’s villainous Lord Blackwood – fills the bill with more than a modicum of evil charm.

¹ How surreal? 2.1x Normal Reality based on 2.5x CircoReality • 2.1x BioReality • 1.6x PhysioReality

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Arrogant. Rakish. Brilliant.¹ Hmm, which moviestar best fits those clues? Ah yes, Robert Downey Jr., muscled up and laying it down. He even pulls off the English accent, at least to this reviewer’s American ear. Holmes now joins Iron Man to give Downey two major franchise series, placing him on the very short AAA List of megastars. Rare air up there.

Jude Law – a major moviestar himself – plays Dr. Watson as a man’s man of the classic British persuasion: walking stick wielding and stiff legged when not in action. Jolly good show.

Their female counterparts, however, are lackluster. Rachel McAdams, in particular, generates no particular charm or menace, notwithstanding ample opportunity to do both. Kelly Reilly acquits herself better as Watson’s betrothed. Good thing, since she’s likely a staple of the sequels.

Mark Strong, OTOH, makes a terrific villain, as essential to the success of a good-vs-evil movie as the hero himself. What a terrific actor Strong is: Jordanian intelligence officer in Body of Lies or British patrician opposite Downey, he makes any nationality malevolent. His evil Lord Blackwood should pull double duty in a Harry Potter movie.

Speaking of transnational actors, using Americans as Brits is not a great decision, no matter how stellar Downey is. The producers should have at least used a hot British actress instead of Rachel McAdams as his romantic foil. What, Keira Knightly was busy?
-—————

¹ Brilliant in both the British and American senses.

Film - Great 4.0

The film admirably sweeps aside dandified characterizations, harking back to Conan Doyle’s bare knuckled fighter. Casino Royale applied the same revisionist cleansing to a subsequent British hero – Bond, James Bond, also a bare knuckled fighter – with similar bracing results.

Edge - Risqué 1.8

Visceral hand-to-hand violence comes early and often. While occasionally comic, it’s not comik violence: men die at the hands of others. Consider this before sharing the movie with kids.

At least he left out the opium. Guess that’ll have to wait for the sequel.

Reality - Surreal 2.1

What does it take to place Conan Doyle’s Victorian detective in IndyJonesian hyper-reality? 45 stuntmen, 25 FX players, and several other crafts, each numbering at least a couple dozen.

8 Comments

• Wick May 14, 2010 11:44PM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  Solid review, Holmes.

• MJ5K Jan 15, 2010 7:04AM

  Haha I said just kidding : )

• Wick Jan 14, 2010 11:51PM

  Yep, I call ’em as I see ’em, and try not to give nihilism extra credit just because it seems so heavy.

• MJ5K Jan 14, 2010 6:25PM

  Sorry, Wick. I don’t know why I posted that comment. I respect your opinion……Mr. Gives G-Force a 4.5 and gives the Road only a 3.5 HOW DARE YOU!!! lol Just kidding.

• Wick Jan 13, 2010 8:53PM

  You say that here MJ, yet you gave both Avatar and Basterds 3.5 beams and have yet to review Holmes. IOW, your actions aren’t yet matching your words.

  Back to Avatar, I also gave it a Very Good, same as you.

• MJ5K Jan 13, 2010 8:07PM

  Yeesh laweesh, Wick. Avatar was MUCH better than both Holmes and Inglorious Basterds.

• Wick Jan 13, 2010 6:19PM

  Regarding SCDL’s Review
  I agree SCDL. I liked it better than Avatar also.

• Wick Jan 2, 2010 9:56PM

  Regarding John A Massie’s Review
  First rate review Massie. Your summary – interesting and spot-on, then LOL. Your bottom line – perspicacious. I took Holmes in last night from row 5 of the Century 21, the full dome next to Sarah Winchester’s house – biggest and best screen for big movies. Clearly a Great movie. I’m not feeling too much pressure to get my review up however given what you and Hurwizzle have already posted.

  Bravo.

  Great to have you back. You’re consistently interesting.

  - W

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