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Critics Consensus: Guy Ritchie's directorial style might not be quite the best fit for an update on the legendary detective, but Sherlock Holmes benefits from the elementary appeal of a strong performance by Robert Downey, Jr.
Critic Consensus: Guy Ritchie's directorial style might not be quite the best fit for an update on the legendary detective, but Sherlock Holmes benefits from the elementary appeal of a strong performance by Robert Downey, Jr.
All Critics (239) | Top Critics (48) | Fresh (168) | Rotten (71) | DVD (11)
The Victorian sets are terrific and the performances of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, both consummate actors with a special style, are excellent. Nevertheless, their performances are not enough to compensate for a less than stellar script.
Despite a few laggard moments of slow going, Ritchie has pulled off an entertaining coup in giving us a Holmes for the 21st century by digging back to the 19th century original and adding a few bells and whistles.
What was the thinking behind all this?
It's all knotted together, then unraveled with brio, by Holmes and Watson. There are fisticuffs galore, fiery combustion aplenty, and, yes, my dear reader, clever deduction.
The very idea of handing him over to professional lad Guy Ritchie, to be played as a punch-throwing quipster by Robert Downey Jr., is so profoundly stupid one can only step back in dismay.
Downey never winks -- heâ(TM)s too much of a pro for that -- but like the man heâ(TM)s playing, heâ(TM)s much, much smarter than the movie heâ(TM)s in.
The '09 model Holmes is at once a fresh reinvention of the concept for modern sensibilities, and a surprisingly grounded embrace of its pulpy roots.
This film seems like a cynical moneymaker, using a storied name to draw attention while not even trying to bring that beloved creation to life. Expect more of the same, though.
A bravely bonkers action thriller with a crazed comic edge from director Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels).
No doubt Downey's own struggles have informed his character choices. The plot is intelligent and the acting is brilliant. I didn't want it to end.
As Watson, Jude Law has found his perfect role.
It hardly seems worth analyzing a plot so frivolous, but its basis is a wholly material worldview.
What makes this film so refreshing and entertaining is Guy Ritchie's trademark stylish direction as he updates the legendary detective to a modern pop generation, and it has great dialogue, delicious performances and a wonderful production design.
Super Reviewer
Watched this movie with my cousins and I think it was good? Was not entirely sober at the time.
Holmes and Watson prevent the dastardly murder of an innocent girl during a satanic ritual, but when the would be murderer seems to come back from the grave the dynamic duo seem to have met their match....RockNRolla was a strong indication that the Ritchie formula was starting to wear a little thin, but the reinvention of Sherlock Holmes as a hard-drinking, bare knuckle brawling geezer was ringing some serious alarm bells with me (especially since the trailer made it look like Van Helsing 2). Thankfully, Robert Downey Jr. pulls out all the stops to make the character an infectious, eccentric cross between Doctor Who and Indiana Jones, and somehow it works brilliantly. He is perfectly complimented by Jude Law who shares great chemistry with his co-star making them a real Butch And Sundance of Victorian London. Their on screen partnership also has more than a little in common with the Cary Grant/Rosalind Russell pairing in His Girl Friday meaning Rachel McAdams is also on hand to provide the eye candy and stop them from looking too gay. It is a bit guilty of Pirate-izing the material, but the hokey hoodoo never gets too out of hand and the result is a hugely enjoyable comic strip romp that's everything The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen should have been, but wasn't.
Enjoyed it thoroughly!! took me back to my childhood fascination with the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies as I tried to deduce everything as Holmes did lol. A fun solid modern adaptation of a great character.
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