Careful what you Fish for

Rating: 7/10 (16 December 2011)

Greetings again from the darkness. Normally if a sequel shows up a mere two years after the original, we would have good reason for low expectations. However, director Guy Ritchie is back and just as importantly, Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law reprise their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Sticking to the successful template provided by the original, the team delivers one that is sure to keep the fans happy.
The reason so many Sir Arthur Conan Doyle loyalists dismissed the first film is that the frenetic pace and towering action sequences seem to go against what made the original stories so great. So what does Mr. Ritchie do? He goes BIGGER and FASTER! There are three extended action sequences that are mind-boggling to watch. They work because the plot is so elementary, my dear. Professor Moriarty is out to cause a war from which he can personally profit. His plan involves guns, bombs and assassinations. Only our heroes can possibly stop him.
Much of the odd-ball bromance from the first movie has been toned down here, and we get not only the return of Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), Watson's wife (Kelly Reilly), but also the introduction of third female character - a gypsy fortune teller, Madame Simza (played by the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Noomi Rapace). Of course, McAdams character doesn't last long, Reilly gets tossed from a moving train, and Rapace is given only a few running scenes. There may be more women, but this is still a man's world.
The vision for this franchise is an updated version that encourages discovery of Holmes by a new generation. And while Downey is excellent, it's difficult not to notice the similarities to Captain Jack Sparrow. Also, Professor Moriarty is very much a Bond-type villain. None of that matters too much as the rapid-fire dialogue between Holmes and Watson, and the crackling chemistry between Downey and Law, make this a fun time at a huge holiday movie.
It seems odd that the release date for this one is so close to that of the new Mission:Impossible, but they both deliver what the fans want and hopefully find their audience. Even if you aren't a fan, the fabulous sets and various world filming locations will keep you interested, even as you dodge giant explosions.