Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Review

Rated PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Violence and Action, and Some Drug Material)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 9 Minutes

Cast:

Robert Downey Jr.-Sherlock Holmes

Jude Law-Dr. John Watson

Jared Harris-Professor James Moriarty

Noomi Rapace-Madame Simza Heron

Rachel McAdams-Irene Adler

Stephen Fry-Mycroft Holmes

Kelly Reilly-Mary Morstan Watson

Paul Anderson-Colonel Sebastian Moran

Eddie Marsan-Inspector G. Lestrade

Geraldine James-Mrs. Hudson

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Sherlock Holmes faces off against Professor James Moriarty in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows."

Exactly two years ago in 2009, director Guy Ritchie struck gold by re-imagining Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous literary detective Sherlock Holmes as a bona-fide action hero in a film that became a surprise hit among modern audiences, owing much of its success to Robert Downey Jr.’s energetic portrayal, who imbued the lead character with a likable roguish wit and charm. “Sherlock Holmes” did extremely well at the box office with a final worldwide gross of $524 million, impressive considering that it faced stiff competition from James Cameron’s 3D visual spectacle, “Avatar.” A sequel was all but expected considering the first film concluded with one of its subplots deliberately left unresolved, leaving Ritchie with the challenge of making a follow-up that not only retains the fun thrills of the original but also raises the stakes and action set-pieces. While “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is an intermittently enjoyable flick that wisely retains the sarcastic banter between its two leading men, it ultimately disappoints and makes for a hollow viewing experience as it suffers from the same flaws that plague most modern sequels in its weak attempt to hide a lazily-written story under a veneer of flashy fight scenes and loud explosions. 

Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) is dutifully recounting an adventure he had with his at times irritatingly good friend and comrade-in-arms Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) in 1891 on his typewriter, revealing that Europe was on the brink of war after suffering from a series of bombings perpetrated by an unknown group of anarchists. Holmes, in an ill-conceived disguise, is stalking his sometimes lover and enemy Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), who is delivering a package to a wealthy doctor named Hoffmanstahl in exchange for a sealed letter. Hoffmanstahl believes the package to be his compensation but it is revealed to be a bomb, which Holmes quickly disposes of while Adler makes a quick escape. He realizes in the confusion that the doctor has been killed by a small poisonous dart that induces a heart attack. Adler arrives at a crowded teahouse to meet with Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris), the criminal mastermind behind the events of the first film. She tries to explain what happened but Moriarty poisons her as she had been compromised by her feelings for Holmes. Meanwhile, Watson arrives at 221B Baker Street to remind Holmes that he is getting married to Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) the next day and should head out for his stag party. Holmes reveals that he is currently working on the single most important case of his career and that recent events have all been tied to Moriarty, although he does not yet have sufficient evidence to bring him to justice. At the party, which includes Holmes’ equally sarcastic brother Mycroft (Stephen Fry), Watson is disappointed that none of his friends have been invited and sulks off to the gambling tables. Holmes, however, is there to meet with a gypsy fortune teller named Simza Heron (Noomi Rapace) and gives her the letter he stole from Adler. He asks for Simza’s help in locating her brother Rene, who is the author of the letter and is the only lead Holmes has on Moriarty. Holmes defeats a Cossack assassin sent to kill Simza but she escapes during the confusion. After Watson is married and sent off to his honeymoon with Mary, Holmes finally meets face-to-face Moriarty. The two admit their admiration for each other but Moriarty warns that if Holmes does not desist from interfering with his plans, he will begin to target those closest to him. Assassin’s sent by Moriarty attack Watson and Mary on the train to their honeymoon but Holmes had already stowed aboard in another inept disguise. The duo manage to escape after a huge firefight and they embark on their final case together in order to stop Moriarty from instigating a ‘world war’ among the nations of Europe. 

“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” is a lazy sequel that rests on the laurels of the original film, with an ill-conceived script that makes no logical sense and is little more than an excuse to string along a series of loud action scenes while pushing its characters from point A to point B, as if it was in a rush to be over. Despite the promise of such a well-known villain from Doyle’s stories, Moriarty’s ultimate plan is surprisingly banal given the way the film makes him out to be some grand-scheming sociopathic genius. Ritchie, with writers Kieran and Michele Mulroney, attempt to thematically connect the plot with the uncertainty of today by having Moriarty fund a group of anarchists (or terrorists) to sow the seeds of conflict for a war between the European nations. His goal is to reap the profits from the war since he owns much of the weapons manufacturing industry. These ideas show promise but when implemented into the story, it comes off as half-baked as nothing meaningful is being said. Plot points are often blatantly telegraphed in the dialogue and Holmes’ deductions border on deus ex machina by treating the audience as idiots with long-winded explanations. The humor is largely hit-or-miss and often tries too hard to elicit laughs. Ritchie’s steampunk-inspired visuals are well done on a technical level but the flashy action scenes soon grow tiresome with its overuse of slow-motion in order to showcase random objects splintering into a million pieces or Holmes planning out his fights in his mind. However, it was a nice change of pace to have Holmes and Moriarty wage a climactic battle of wits over a game of chess during the final twenty or so minutes of the film. Such a game feels befitting for two geniuses who reside on opposite sides of the same coin but unfortunately, it’s a case of too little too late. 

“A Game of Shadows” wisely retains the sarcastic banter between Holmes and Watson, the original dynamic duo, and this can largely be attributed to the rapport Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law share. At times, Downey Jr.’s performance borders on parody with his wordy witticisms and increasingly ridiculous disguises but he remains as one of the few bright spots of the film because he’s clearly enjoying himself in the role and is complemented so well with Law’s more understated acting. The weak script however does not afford any opportunity to develop their characters since it’s in such a rush to move to the next location. Rachel McAdams is quickly done away with in the first fifteen minutes and Noomi Rapace is simply wasted in her American debut as she often just stands in the background staring into space and having little to say. Jared Harris is deliciously evil as Professor James Moriarty and the best scenes are when he and Holmes try to outdo each other with nothing but their intellect. Disappointingly, there are far too little of these scenes. Stephen Fry rounds out the cast as Holmes’ equally eloquent brother Mycroft but he serves as little more than comic relief. 

“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” was released on December 16, 2011 to mildly positive reviews with 59% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found the sequel to be ‘a good yarn thanks to its well-matched leading men but overall stumbles duplicating the well-oiled thrills of the original.’ Despite the enthusiasm exhibited by audiences for the first film, “A Game of Shadows” has been under-performing at the domestic box office, with a weekend gross of $40 million compared to the original’s $62 million. The previous film also had to contend with “Avatar” but although the sequel will earn less, it should make back its estimated $125 million production budget and turn a sizable profit to warrant a third entry, as was intentioned judging from the ending as once again a plot thread is left unresolved. Box office analysts have been trying to explain away the current slump and while the dismal economy does factor in, the answer is more obvious as the pre-release advertising for “A Game of Shadows” just showcased more of the same. Hollywood is currently so afraid to even attempt anything new for fear of losing money. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” benefits from the camaraderie exhibited by Downey Jr. and Law but this sequel is ultimately an exercise in pointlessness with its nonsensical script and hollow action scenes.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5

“They're dangerous at both ends and...crafty in the middle. Why would I want anything with a mind of its own bobbing about between my legs?”