"Sherlock Holmes"
Action/Adventure
Directed by: Guy Ritchie
Release date: December 25th, 2009
Reviewed by: Chess Hubbard
Grade:


Guy Ritchie is a very hit or miss director in my book. Action, however, is definitely his strength, and action is what he infused into Sherlock Holmes, making it the perfect holiday blockbuster. Aimed at as wide an audience as possible, Sherlock Holmes is everything a Hollywood big budget film should be, brainless and entertaining. The scenery is slick and the costumes gorgeous, but the real superstar here is Hans Zimmer, who scored a delicious soundtrack.

Robert Downey Jr. is always enjoyable to watch and to my surprise, Jude Law didn't annoy the piss out of me like I thought he was going to. In fact, the chemistry between the two is so strong that I couldn't help but want them to kiss in their up close and personal scenes, or maybe just hug a little inappropriately. I guess they will save those scenes for the unrated DVD special edition. Hey, a girl can dream, yes?

My main complaint is that it is too slick and Hollywood, after all, this is Sherlock Holmes we're talking about, not Ironman or even James Bond. I grew up watching the BBC Sherlock Holmes series and reading the books. Holmes was a refined intellectual and Watson was the older, chill doctor that was more of a sidekick than a constant lifesaver. I guess I like my Holmes nerdy, playing (not plucking) his violin and definitely not shirtless fighting in bars.

Rachel McAdams, who I generally like, was a little too cute and dainty for the roll of Adler in my opinion. It's hard to think of her as the masterminding sphinx that seduced Holmes not once but twice (Monica Bellucci would have been a better fit) and I would have liked to see more character development in the villains. But again, this is the classic blockbuster formula, all names and no brains.

In the Christmas spirit, I will be generous in my rating because I did enjoy myself and Hans Zimmer really did out do himself on the score. I doubt this movie will hold up on repeated viewings, but it was a treat to see in the theatre with a bucket of popcorn and milkduds in tow.