The Enola Holmes franchise’s creation of intriguing detective stories is not waning, and its third installment proved as much. “Enola Holmes 3,” which dropped on Netflix July 1, stars Millie Bobby Brown as the titular protagonist and Louis Partridge as her love interest and partner in crime, Lord Tewkesbury.
The third movie focuses on the kidnapping of Enola’s brother, Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), on Enola and Tewkesbury’s wedding day. Set in Malta, the film offers a fresh location for the franchise, which was a smart choice to ensure the third movie wasn’t mundane. The setting captivates viewers, raising questions of how Enola will navigate a new, unfamiliar city to find her brother.
Sherlock’s kidnapping is not the only layer of this mystery. Throughout the movie, the plot thickens, involving hired spies, stolen gold and Tewkesbury family secrets. While this might seem like a lot to juggle, Brown continues to light up the screen, combining humor, wit and resilience into a beloved character. The movie’s complex plot and characters prove that “Enola Holmes 3” is not your average young adult action movie.
I enjoyed seeing a bit more of Enola’s mother, Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter), in this film. She comes to the rescue when her daughter is in a tricky situation, offering motherly wisdom and showing how much she cares for her daughter, even if she hasn’t always been there. It is characters like Eudoria, who adds humorous and parental elements, that continue to elevate each movie in the franchise.
I notably enjoyed Tewkesbury’s increased involvement in helping Enola throughout the movie. He’s often seen as a privileged man, following the protagonist in her quests. But this time around, Tewkesbury had some character growth and even got to play detective a bit. His knowledge of the upper class and knowledge of his family prove useful in solving the case.
Sweet moments between Enola and Tewkesbury — like the ocean scene in which they play in the water, laugh and slow down — displayed their lovable banter, a signature trait of their relationship. Both characters have grown over the years, and their respect for one another’s independence while pursuing companionship that seems modern for the late 19th century makes them a great duo.
At the end of the movie, Enola says all good stories end with a wedding. If that is true, then Enola and Tewkesbury’s nuptials gave viewers the perfect bittersweet goodbye. As they embraced, surrounded by loved ones, the couple served as a reminder that we are not alone, even if our name is “alone” spelled backward.
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