One Of The Most Entertaining Movies Of The Holiday Season

Rating: 8/10 (28 December 2009)

Robert Downey Jr. has, in recent years, made a reputation for himself and the movies he headlines. You can expect a few things from them. Firstly, they're probably going to be fun. This is evidenced by Tropic Thunder, and even more so, Iron Man. Secondly, there is a good amount of humor put into his roles. In this new version of the famous Baker Street detective, he continues his trend of blockbuster making roles as he serves up a joyous and often times funny portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.
This time around, Holmes and Watson, played to a T by Jude Law, must tackle a seemingly supernatural case involving a resurrected Lord Blackwood back from the dead. The rest of the film is spent chasing the once deceased Lord and figuring out his next move. And it is quite a wild ride through London at that. The film succeeds in spades thanks largely to its perfectly cast leading men and a smart script that provides a fantastic maze of a story that has one guessing right up to the end, just as traditional Sherlock Holmes tales have done. Law and Downey Jr. work so perfectly together, it could be argued that this is the best couple of any movie in recent history. And what perfect casting. Jude Law, commonly known for more sophisticated, yet hard bitten, roles oozes such here with a Watson who is quite sophisticated and smart, but also displays a natural talent for fighting his way out of a physical confrontation. Likewise, Downey brings his usual mixture of crazy and cocky to it's most raw. It also helps that both characters are flawed in very realistic ways (Watson a compulsive gambler, Holmes an obsessive compulsive drinker), the way that the characters are often best done.
Another very positive element is the mixture of elements between the story, character development, and action, all of which work superbly. The action is much more down to earth and far less CGI-ey that was once believed. The story, while many have said is uninteresting, still commands attention as it sets up a fine and inventive mystery. Above all, the character development creates two very fun and fascinating characters that are two of the most enjoyable of any film in recent memory.
Sherlock Holmes isn't a perfect film. Far from it, Rachel McAdams is wasted here as a love interest and Mark Strong falls short of a worthy adversary for Downey Jr., whose Holmes is far more impressive than the lackluster Lord Blackwood. And some of the story seems a bit forced, as if elements were put it in simply to push the story through. However, these are not nearly enough to deter from what works in the film, and what works, works so well. Sherlock Holmes is definitely a great way to end 2009 in film.