Enola Holmes 3 review: Millie Bobby Brown is all grown up in latest caper | Films | Entertainment

Much like Millie Bobby Brown, the actress who plays her, Enola Holmes is all grown up in this, the third instalment of the detective drama movie series about Sherlock’s little sister. Lest there was any doubt, the film opens with her preparing for her wedding day as she gets set to pledge her troth to Tewkesbury (played by an equally grown-up Louis Partridge). Of course, there wouldn’t be much drama if things went to plan, and when big brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) is kidnapped, she abandons the nuptials and refocuses her energy into the search for him, aided by his sidekick Dr Watson (Himesh Patel) and her mother Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter).

If you’ve seen the other offerings in this franchise, then you know what to expect. Enola frequently breaks the fourth wall, giving viewers an insight into her thoughts, and there are twists and turns galore as she uses her sleuthing abilities to track down her sibling. It isn’t long before she deduces their old adversary, Moriarty (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), might have had a hand in her brother’s disappearance.

What makes this different from the earlier instalments, released in 2020 and 2022 respectively, is that she is also trying to figure out what she wants from her future and navigate her own personal crossroads as a Victorian woman.

This coming-of-age element adds another layer to the drama and allows for some more mature and darker material – while ensuring they always stay within PG territory

The decidedly more grown-up adventure for the free-spirited heroine is helmed by Adolescence director Philip Barantini, who brings a fresh pair of eyes and a social conscience to the series as class issues feature heavily throughout.

Just in case you haven’t bothered watching the earlier offerings, there are also plenty of montages to bring you up to speed – although some of these do feel very much like filler.

Brown does double duties as producer and star. She is endearingly charming in the role, even if it is difficult to see her as anything other than a teenager.

Meanwhile, Helena Bonham Carter is a firecracker as the Holmes matriarch and seems to be having immense fun reprising the role. As for Cavill – well, much like the previous outings, his presence is reduced to more or less cameos.

Shot mainly in Malta, they have taken advantage of the beautiful scenery, resulting in some truly stunning cinematography. It seems a shame this will mainly get lost on screens at home, as it is quite majestic.

Overall, this is energetic escapism. They’re not reinventing the wheel and stick to what works. Harmless fun but somewhat forgettable, this will satisfy fans of the previous films but is unlikely to convert fence-sitters.

Enola Holmes 3 is streaming on Netflix from July 1.