Before I get into this, I should mention that I am not entirely familiar with the original Sherlock Holmes story. However, I am acquainted with a myriad of its permutations, parodies, and references.Most of the time it goes something like this: Holmes, a master detective, accompanied by his trusty sidekick Watson, solves impossible mysteries. This movie is no exception.
I think many people thought that this would turn out to be more of a James Bond film. I had also expressed similar concerns when going to see it. While there is a good deal of action throughout this film, it's not as campy as 007. In fact, I thought that the action was a necessary part of the picture. The audience would have been bored to death after 2-and-a-half hours of dialogue and mystery solving.
Robert Downey Jr. plays Holmes, a madman who performs seemingly pointless experiments and plays violin in his spare time. This makes for a rather engaging character, seemingly graceless but nevertheless sharp and calculated in combat and in solving mysteries.
All in all, I was very pleased with the casting choices. Everyone pulls their weight, and the main characters are all interesting. I also liked the fact that the movie doesn't try to play down to the lowest common denominator. The dialogue is fast-paced and witty, and not the least bit condescending.
I like how the mysteries unravel as well. Seemingly unfeasible mysteries are all revealed towards the end of the movie, and the payoff is sweet.
For the most part, I really liked this movie. However, there is something stopping it from becoming an instant classic in my mind. Although the characters were stimulating, the plot left something to be desired. Much like the sequels to Pirates of the Caribbean, it felt a little scattered. I could be wrong; maybe it was just the mood I was in. Still, I think it 's worth a watch and I look forward to the sequels.
