If there was one thing Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) had never been good at, it was staying out of trouble.
In Enola Holmes 3, Enola had reached a point in her life where things seemed as though they might finally become a little simpler. She had grown into a confident young detective, and her relationship with Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) had become more serious. Marriage had even been on the horizon.
But, as expected, things didn't go according to plan.
The story took Enola to Malta, where what should have been an exciting new chapter quickly turned into another mystery. When her brother Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) disappeared, Enola put everything else aside and began searching for him.
What made the story more interesting was that Enola wasn't only dealing with a mystery. She was also trying to figure out what she wanted from her own life. She cared deeply about Tewkesbury, but she had always valued her independence. The thought of settling down wasn't exactly easy for someone who had spent so much of her life proving that she could stand on her own.
Millie Bobby Brown once again brought Enola to life with plenty of personality. Enola remained clever, curious, stubborn and occasionally hilariously impulsive. Even when she found herself in dangerous situations, she still managed to bring her usual confidence and humour.
Her relationship with Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge) had also developed considerably. Their connection felt more mature than it had in the earlier films, and their story added a softer emotional layer to all the mystery and chaos surrounding them.
Then there was Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill).
Sherlock's disappearance made the case much more personal for Enola. She wasn't investigating because somebody had simply hired her. This time, her own brother was missing, and she wasn't willing to sit back and let someone else handle it.
Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter) also returned, while Dr. Watson (Himesh Patel) and Moriarty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) added more complications to Enola's already difficult investigation.
One of the things I enjoyed most about the movie was that it retained the playful spirit of the earlier films. There were clues to uncover, unexpected turns, chases, humour and plenty of moments where Enola's determination got her into situations she probably should have avoided.
The Malta setting also gave the movie a refreshing change of scenery. It created a different atmosphere and helped the third instalment feel like a new chapter rather than a simple repeat of the previous stories.
The mystery itself wasn't impossible to figure out, though. Anyone who had watched enough detective movies might have spotted a few clues before Enola put everything together. But honestly, that didn't take away much from the experience.
The real fun came from watching Enola chase the answers, make mistakes, find her way back and refuse to give up.
Underneath all the mystery and adventure, the movie also showed how much Enola had grown. She wasn't simply trying to prove that she was as clever or capable as the people around her anymore. She was beginning to understand who she wanted to become and whether growing up really meant giving up the independence that had always defined her.
That was probably what made this chapter work for me.
It wasn't a perfect movie, and some parts of the story could have been explored more deeply. Still, it delivered enough mystery, romance, humour and adventure to remain entertaining.
More importantly, it still felt like Enola's story rather than another story that simply happened to involve Sherlock Holmes.
My Rating: 85/100
Enola Holmes 3 delivered a fun continuation of the franchise, with a more mature Enola, a stronger emotional storyline and another mystery for her to unravel.
For anyone who had enjoyed the first two movies, the third instalment offered plenty to enjoy.
There was romance, family drama, mystery, danger and just enough chaos to remind everyone of one simple fact that whenever Enola Holmes got involved, nothing ever stayed simple for long.
Images are screenshots from the movie
Rating: 85/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/movies.
