The game is afoot once again, yet this time Enola seems to be going nowhere.
On July 1, “Enola Holmes 3” took to Netflix starring Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge. Though watching the detective and Lord Tewkesbury finally tie the knot satisfied fans’ need for romance, the underlying mystery suffered from a lack of dramatic tension and cinematic spark.
The film begins with Enola traveling to Malta for her wedding with Lord Tewksbury, wrestling with the tension between her independent spirit and societal demands. Before she makes it down the aisle, her brother, Sherlock, is kidnapped, forcing her to suspend her personal life and begin a dangerous rescue mission.
Coincidentally, the movie should feel different with both a new director and producer added to the project. Philip Barantini took over for Harry Bradbeer, aiming to steer the narrative toward a more mature tone. Previously directing “Adolescence,” Barantini was expected to deliver yet another hit series. Instead, what could have been a satisfying end to a witty and mysterious trilogy ended with a movie that drained the franchise of its charm.
Jake Bongiovi additionally joined the team as the new producer. “I might be biased, but I think he’s the best,” Brown said at the movie premiere when asked about her husband’s role as producer. The only reason why he was assigned this role, however, was to work beside his wife, and it had little to nothing to do with producing credentials. “I get to see my husband and love him all day long,” Brown said.
What made the two previous films so electrifying was their ability to keep the audience guessing. That feeling of your stomach tightening when the climax is rising was beautifully captured both times. The script of the third movie now relied on convenient coincidences and boring villainous reveals, leaving very little for the audience to attempt to solve. In almost creative exhaustion, the movie reintroduces the antagonist from the second movie – a clear sign of desperation.
So while the movie provides a new setting, “Enola Holmes 3” functions as a low-stakes watch instead of the sharp and clever end to the franchise fans were expecting. When a detective’s third case relies on recycled villains and predictable events, the game may be afoot, but it’s time to call it off for good.