'The games afoot'......

Rating: 7/10 (18 January 2010)

After finally catching serial killer Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson close yet another successful case.
But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again.
Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler...
Tony Stark travels back in time to take on the role of the eponymous sleuth, with decidedly mixed results. First off, it's not a bad film by any means, the chemistry between the leads is the best thing about it, and Downey Jr. is as good as always.
But this, being a Silver production, puts style before substance and story, and it shows a hell of a lot throughout. You would think that it's being directed by Ritchie, you would expect some witty banter, and while there is some signs of Ritchies earlier genius in the first act (Holmes explaining how he will defeat his opponent), it soon fades in favour of set-pieces.
It doesn't help that Silver goes back to his Lethal Weapon sequel days with the lack of involving narrative, but Downey Jr. and Law make it work.
some of it is fun, the fight with the massive 'European' is hilarious, and probably the high point of the film, but there are low points too, McAdams is wasted, and Holmes donning a disguise is more reminiscent of Sellers in the poorer Pink Panther movies, than a clever detective at work.
It's the type of movie that will only work when released at a holiday period (see: various OTT blockbusters), but one thinks that this may be just the set up of a potentially good franchise.
It's all good forgettable fun, just quickly forgettable, and the script could have been a bit sharper.