Enola Holmes 3 Review: A Charming Cast Carries a Weak Mystery
Netflix is back with Enola Holmes 3, the latest adventure in a franchise that has enjoyed decent success but never quite became the phenomenon it probably could have been. So does the third installment finally change that? Let’s find out.
At a Glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Director | Philip Barantini |
Writer | Jack Thorne |
Starring | Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge, Henry Cavill, Himesh Patel, Helena Bonham Carter |
Best Part | The cast, especially Millie Bobby Brown |
Weakest Part | A mystery that barely feels like a mystery |
Verdict | The performances do almost all the heavy lifting in a movie with a surprisingly thin plot. |
Rating | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
The Biggest Problem Is the Mystery Itself
The Enola Holmes franchise has been uneven from the start. Enola Holmes 2 was a noticeable improvement over the first movie. Sadly, the same cannot be said about Enola Holmes 3.
Rarely has there been a detective movie that has everything going for it except the detective part. Let’s ignore the fact that any Sherlock Holmes fan could probably smell the twist from the opening minutes. The prologue certainly doesn’t help either. I also understand that the target audience is younger viewers who may not have grown up reading Sherlock Holmes stories.
The real issue isn’t that the mystery is predictable. The issue is that the movie keeps pretending there is a mystery to solve. The plot is wafer thin. Despite having a shorter runtime than the previous two films, Enola Holmes 3 somehow still feels stretched.
Millie Bobby Brown Once Again Carries the Movie
Now don’t get me wrong. Enola Holmes 3 is not a miserable watch, and the biggest reason for that is Millie Bobby Brown (Millie Bonnie Bongiovi). At this point, Enola almost feels like an extension of Millie herself. She remains witty, effortlessly breaks the fourth wall, and injects personality into every scene. She is sharp, funny, and somehow manages to sell the heck out of an incredibly flimsy plot.
Very few movies rely this heavily on their lead actor. Thankfully, she isn’t carrying it alone. Louis Partridge continues to be the perfect grounding force for Enola’s more free spirited personality. Their chemistry remains one of the franchise’s strongest aspects.
Henry Cavill once again proves why he is one of the best modern castings for Sherlock Holmes. Just like the previous films, Sherlock operates more like a shadow over the story. He is present, but this is clearly Enola’s movie.
Then there is Himesh Patel, who might genuinely be the most charismatic Dr. Watson we’ve had in years. He is impeccable throughout the film. His conversation with Tewkesbury about colonial rule and the horrors of war is easily one of the strongest scenes in the movie.
Social Commentary Works Better Than the Detective Story
For all the problems with its mystery, Enola Holmes 3 continues the franchise’s tradition of exploring social issues.
This time the focus shifts towards British colonial rule over Malta and the human cost of wars fought in the Queen’s name across the world. The film also continues exploring what it means to be a young woman trying to carve out her own identity.
One of my favourite moments comes during Enola and Tewkesbury’s wedding. We are so used to hearing, “You may now kiss the wife.” Instead, the officiant, Enola’s mother, Eudoria Holmes (played by Helena Bonham Carter) says, “You may now kiss the husband.”
It is a tiny detail, but I genuinely appreciated it.
For a franchise that has always worn its themes of equality proudly, this scene doesn’t scream for attention. It simply presents the moment naturally without becoming preachy, something Netflix productions don’t always manage.
Enola Is Only as Smart as the Plot Needs Her to Be
Millie’s charm can only cover so many cracks. One of my biggest frustrations is how Enola’s intelligence changes depending on what the screenplay needs.
One of the funniest moments to me comes when she correctly deduces that abducting Sherlock Holmes would be incredibly difficult because of his fighting ability. Then she immediately accepts that a group of goons somehow overpowered him and that the Morse code message he left behind must be genuine.
She never once considers that the message itself could have been planted. Like I said, it is conventional.
Direction and Editing Feel Uneven
Enola Holmes 3 is directed by Philip Barantini with a screenplay by Jack Thorne, the same duo behind Netflix’s 2025 hit Adolescence. Naturally, I expected tight editing and confident cinematography.
Instead, the movie often feels oddly choppy. The chase sequences end abruptly, scene transitions feel rough, and the overall flow never quite finds a rhythm. It is surprising considering the pedigree of the creative team.
Final Verdict: A Charming Cast Can't Save A Weak Mystery
Rating:
Enola Holmes 3 gets a 3 out of 5 from me. The mystery is wafer thin and never develops into anything particularly engaging. Almost everything that works comes from the performances.
Millie Bobby Brown is phenomenal as always, backed by an equally likeable supporting cast featuring Louis Partridge, Henry Cavill, and Himesh Patel. This is one of those rare movies where the cast does all of the heavy lifting. Makes you wonder if this movie would have been made had it not been for the cast and the established franchise.
Did Enola Holmes 3 live up to the hype for you, or is does the weak mystery spoil the movie? For more such reviews and breakdowns, keep checking The Watchlist Diaries.
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