Released on Netflix on November 4th, 2022, Enola Holmes 2 is the sequel to the adventurous mystery film Enola Holmes. 

The younger sister of the world-famous Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill) takes the screen for the second time in 19th-century London. Trying to distinguish herself from her brother, Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) starts a new detective agency. Her first case is the mystery of a missing girl: Sarah Chapman (Hannah Dodd). Sarah, a member of the lower-working class, goes missing with important blackmail on her boss. Enola works undercover to solve the mystery, but more importantly, to find Sarah’s motive. The case proves itself to be more complex than Enola originally thought, so she reluctantly accepts the help of Lord Tewksbury (Louis Partridge), an important figure from the first film and possible love interest, and Sherlock Holmes, London’s best detective. Through collaboration, they discover a whole new chain of mysteries and puzzles behind Sarah’s disappearance. Enola’s adventures not only lead her to an action-filled mission, but also a period of self discovery where she learns that teamwork and friendship are irreplaceable. 

Enola Holmes 2 is exclusively on Netflix with a run time of 2hr 9min, directed by Harry Bradbeer. The first film is adapted from Nancy Springer’s novel The Enola Holmes Mysteries, however the second film is based off the real-life story of the match-girls strike of 1888. Sarah Chapman, the leader of the strike, discovers the coverup of poisonous phosphorus in a match factory in London. The staff, all young lower class girls, were contracting illnesses from the poor working conditions, but the boss refused to change the phosphorus because the factory was making him very wealthy. Although Bradbeer embellished the story and added the plot line of Enola Holmes, the story of Sarah and the match-girls is completely true and known as the first strike during England’s industrial revolution.

This film includes up and coming stars like Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge, who are still in their teens, but also many experienced and well known actors like Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Eudoria Holmes, and David Thewilis, who plays the antagonist Superintendent Grail. Enola is well known for causing trouble, and Superintendent Grail tries to find reasons to arrest Enola to satisfy his personal vendetta against the Holmes family. The cast was utilized perfectly with each character having the right amount of screen time to continue the plot line. The movie flows from scene to scene with no plot holes or unnecessary detail. 

19th century London is the setting with a particular focus on the industrial revolution. The setting matches perfectly to the costuming and the first movie, as well as the reality of Sarah Chapman. The factories and theaters of the industrial revolution aid Enola’s character development because it allows her to understand different ways of life coming from a wealthy and noble family.

The charming duo of Millie Bobby Brown and Louis Partridge provide a relatable aspect of a different era and an appeal to teens. Partridge’s character played the role of Enola’s love interest without overshadowing her independence or taking over the story line, which is rare in teen movies. The film included a balance of Enola and Twekesbury’s love story and the mystery of Sarah Chapman, along with a feminist storyline that wasn’t overpowering or overused. 

Overall, this film is spectacular and worth a watch. It covers a multitude of genres like action, adventure, mystery, romance, and comedy; therefore, it’s the perfect movie for friends or family with varying tastes in movies. 

The historical references, spot-on casting, era-fitting costuming, and intriguing plotline contribute to the amazing reviews this film is receiving. According to The Wrap, Enola Holmes 2 reached 65.08 million viewing hours in its first week alone, and rose to Netflix’s top ten in 93 countries. 

The storyline of Enola Holmes may not be over yet. Bradbeer’s thoughtfully planned ending satisfied viewers, but also left a couple questions unanswered that could lead to a third movie. 

Overall, Enola Holmes 2 is very well written, casted, and one of the best movies of the year. If you are scrolling through Netflix with nothing to watch, this movie is definitely worth a watch. 

Rating: 10/10