Review of Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) by Dave H — 07 Apr 2014

Just as good - or not so good - depending on your POV - as the first one. The good? RDJ and his chemistry with Jude Law is still exceptional, and the bromance verges even more in this sequel on the homoerotic, needy relationship of these two literary legends.

Fantastic droll humour and dialogue here too. I also liked Stephen Fry, the jaunty music, and Ritchie's patent oh, so stylish slow-mo, fast-mo action beats (especially Sherl's mental predictions).

The not-so-good? Noomi is blank and Jared Harris merely ok, which isn't enough for Moriarty. Well, Sherl's traditional deductive brilliance is dismissed in favour of his action prowess, which in itself isn't so bad - but instead of clarifying Sherl's genius here, his deductions are tossed off far too quickly and disingenuously in a muddy and unspectacular plot.

I hope there's a third, because this is one of the best bromance double-acts since Newman and Redford. But I also hope next time the cleverness translated less through Ritchie style and RDJ arrogance and more through Conan Doyle mystery.