While I feel like Netflix sort of dropped the ball on promoting “Enola Holmes 3” these past few weeks, I still carved out some time to catch the flick myself.
Still, having so many A-List cast members in one project wasn’t enough to keep all of my attention on the television the whole time.
The film is full of slow moments and the overall storyline is weak at best.
Plus, I honestly, didn’t think that there needed to be a third film at all, but apparently, Netflix knows better or something.
At least the background landscape proves to be stunning and beautiful despite the horrible story that it’s forced to prop up.
Holmes 3 is a mystery film and the sequel to the 2022 film Enola Holmes 2, which stars Millie Bobby Brown reprising her role as the title character, the sister of the already-famous Victorian-era detective Sherlock Holmes.
The film also stars Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Henry Cavill, Joe Azzopardi, and Helena Bonham Carter appearing in supporting roles.
It’s directed by Philip Barantini - making this the first film in the series not directed by Harry Bradbeer.
The script written by Jack Thorne it is an original story, not an adaptation of the book series The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer.
Holmes 3 clocks in at 108 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for some violence.
In Malta, Enola Holmes (Brown) and Tewkesbury (Partridge) have arrived for their wedding.
The ceremony is being held there because Tewkesbury’s late father, Lord Peter, served in Malta during the British occupation, and his mother believes it is the most meaningful place for the family.
Sherlock (Cavill) attends but is openly against the marriage, believing Enola is sacrificing her independence to become a “Lady” while Enola insists she can be both a wife and a detective.
Meanwhile, Sherlock is secretly working on another case, but, before he can explain it to Enola, he disappears.
While she searches for her brother, Enola finds herself standing over a dying Maltese soldier that mutters what sounds like “wrath”.
Enola later deduces he actually said “Rathe”, the surname of Professor Adeline Rathe.
Searching Sherlock’s room, Enola finds a torn piece of an expensive woman’s dress.
She tracks the woman through Valletta, but before she can question her, the woman is shot by a sniper.
As she dies, she warns Enola, “She will kill you”.
Enola then pursues the assassin but loses him.
Enola discovers the “she” is actually Professor Moriarty (Brewster), who has escaped prison is living under the alias Professor Adeline Rathe.
Moriarty has deliberately created the Rathe identity to manipulate everyone involved.
While Enola investigates, Sherlock is revealed to be imprisoned alongside Tewkesbury’s mother.
Moriarty explains she arranged almost everything over the previous year, including influencing Lady Tewkesbury into choosing Malta for the wedding, because she wanted Enola to come there.
Sherlock’s kidnapping is simply bait to lure Enola into solving the puzzle for her.
She teams up with Dr. John Watson (Patel), who has recently entered Sherlock’s life, and Maltese freedom fighter Mikiel Mizzi (Azzopardi).
Their investigation uncovers a conspiracy dating back to the Battle of Khost in Afghanistan.
The flick ends on a positive note despite the weak storyline and confusing back and forth between Enola and Tewkesbury.
And even though the ending is left open for a fourth film, I’m hoping that I don’t have to endure another Enola Holmes movie any time soon.
