Sherlock

Plot: Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson (Jude Law) have just captured the evil Lord Blackmore, who had planned to take over the world and is said to dabble in the occult. Blackmore is sent off to be hanged, and the detectives are left with time on their hands. But then word comes that Balckmore has risen from the dead and is threatening world domination yet again.

Review: This is not your grandfather’s Sherlock Holmes, this is an extremely fit Holmes with a sense of humor and an ex-girlfriend he’s still in love with. He boxes in his spare time, tests chemical experiments on his dog, and wouldn’t seem out of place laden with ecstasy at a rave or a three-day bender at the Savoy. It helps that Holmes 2.0 is played by Robert Downey Jr., who’s know to have gone on a bender or two himself, and who knows how to play goofy in a way that’s interesting and very charming.

There is also a new Dr. Watson. Gone is the buffoon of yore, who basically hung around next to the detective so that Holmes could share his findings out loud. Jude Law adds his own charm and humor, and is the perfect significant other in this late 19th century mystery thriller with a touch of bromance.

This is director Guy Ritchie’s best movie in years. After a very promising start (1998’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), his subsequent ventures seemed strained attempts to regain the magic that never materialized – apparently being married to Madonna was not good for his creative juices; the couple married in 1998 and split last year, just in time for us to enjoy the launch of a new franchise.
(Katrin Gygax)