Big doings on Baker Street...

I was a more than a little nervous about Sherlock Holmes. So I’m thrilled to report that the movie is a ripping piece of entertainment. Guy Ritchie has managed to be reverential of the Holmes mythos and of 19th Century London while keeping things vigorous and moving rapidly enough to satisfy a modern audience. An early sequence showing how Holmes’ deductive reasoning sizes up a bare-knuckled opponent in slow motion while his brain zips along strategizing how to inflict maximum damage is just a sample of the inventiveness on display. The streets of London are wonderfully rendered thanks to some beautifully designed CGI.

I was afraid Robert Downey Jr. would play it too broad, too arch and too pleased with himself. Sigh of relief, as he does a fantastic job of inhabiting Holmes, conveying both his strengths and his weaknesses. One can’t help but worry when an American is cast as Britain’s greatest detective, but Downey nails a vocal performance that is spot-on. His chemistry with Jude Law is tremendous and believable.

As villainous Lord Blackwood, Mark Strong is a terrific presence, seeming like he’s crashed into the movie from a Hellboy sequel. What use is the logic of Sherlock Holmes against the chaos and supernatural power of such a seemingly unstoppable foe? Sherlock Holmes paints with an Indiana Jones brush, but always manages to stay respectful to the idea of who Sherlock Holmes is. Like J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, the movie never forgets that there’s an audience out there and that they want to have a good time. To gasp, identify and have fun. More than any other film I’ve seen recently, Sherlock Holmes makes you hungry for the next chapter…

NOTE: Due to an agreement with Warner Home Video, this movie is unavailable at Red Box or NetFlix until April 27th...while it was released for purchase on March 25th... So finding it to rent may be difficult. Expect to see more of this kind of thing, as DVD sales continue to sag, and studios try to "gently steer" the marketplace away from renting and towards purchasing. Portland readers, Hollywood Video (NE Fremont location) does carry this title. It's well worth the extra effort to track down!