Director: Etan Cohen
Cast Headliners: Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Rebecca Hall, Ralph Fiennes, wasn't too sure who else counts
Original Release Date: December 25, 2018
Will Ferrell and John C Reilly coming together have been comedy events of note every time in the past. Both in Talledega Nights and Step Brothers (with technically even Anchorman 2’s cameo counting) the two legendary comedians made audiences laugh with bizarre insanity and hi-jjinx. Holmes and Watson takes a very special duo to the same place again but for a very public domain parody in Sherlock Holmes. There’s laughs and fun to be had but also many, many, many at times irritating flaws.
After an unnecessary flashback the supposedly famed detective Sherlock Holmes (Will Ferrell) and his partner Dr. John Watson (John C Reilly) are given a mission by the Queen Victoria (Pam Ferris) to stop the nefarious Professor Moriarty (Ralph Fiennes). Along the way the team up or otherwise interact with the likes of mortician Dr.Grace Hart (Rebecca Hall) and her assistant Millie (Lauren Lapkus), Inspector Lestrade(Rob Brydon), or their assistant Hudson(Kelly Macdonald). Various shenanigans ensue.
That’s about all one needs to know since that’s about all there is. It’s a period piece parody that mostly sticks to Londonion tropes with occasionally clever or occasionally very stupid dips into the meta or modern. Ferrell and Reilly are both great at hamming up their roles. Holmes is the usual big dumb goof he plays with some humorous forays into “deduction”. If most takes are intelligent his is being dumb that others take as smart. It’s typical stuff but leads to some laughs in an otherwise pretty lowbrow silly script. Reilly’s Watson is a bit more effective with his retorts and accent aided by a manic nature. For one looking for more of this duo it delivers on that when it can. Everyone else is just a bit player for a gag whether its Hall’s role per her gender(with some funny stuff in the romantic area if even brief) or Ferris’ Queen being both exposition or the center of some of the best gags. No one else really makes any impact although of course some celebrity guests appear like Steve Coogan as Gustav Klinger, Hugh Laurie as Mycroft Holmes, and WWE star Braun Strowman as .. Braun who have some gags that should be seen. Fiennes is barely in the film at all actually although his villainous plots are felt.
“Plot” is a grand word to put on this film. It is perhaps one of the most basic takes on a Holmes mystery ever possible which may be best for what is done. There’s some fun surprises in terms of jokes and mania that feels as surreal and fun as one would want but some may role their heads at how low it is. The production, costumes, music and etc is all typical with “action” being seldom if ever. It’s mainly people talking and doing silly things which fits in director Etan Cohen’s court.
See this movie with some hesitance. Fans of the titular Holmes and Watson actor duo will get some cheap laughs and it’s a dumb silly way to spend an afternoon. But oh boy can it be dumb although the value is at times felt. 6.6 out of 10
No comments:
Post a Comment