Enola Holmes 3 Review: Coming-of-Age Challenges for the Charming Young Detective
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Charlotte Thompson writes in an exclusive review of Enola Holmes 3:
Time flies—even for Netflix’s most charming cinematic franchises. Navigating the growing pains of coming-of-age is an inevitable process that even the sharpest minds cannot escape.
This is precisely what unfolds in Enola Holmes 3, directed by Philip Barantini. The film marks the third installment in the mystery franchise starring Millie Bobby Brown, built on the premise that the Holmes family harbors yet another brilliant mind—who happens to be a young woman. Over the course of three films and the past six years, the Stranger Things star has proven herself to be an energetic and endearing lead, deftly navigating intricate mysteries and high-octane scenarios.
Brown remains the definitive choice to embody Enola Holmes, a character adapted from Nancy Springer’s young adult book series. However, this third outing stumbles into missteps that one hopes the franchise will outgrow in the future. Part of the shift may stem from a change in the director’s chair; Philip Barantini (Adolescence) takes over the reins from Harry Bradbeer, who helmed the first two installments. Collaborating with Jack Thorne—the screenwriter behind all three films—Barantini infuses Enola’s growth with a more mature tone. It is an understandable creative choice, yet one that clashes with the franchise’s signature vibrancy.
This is not to suggest these films only succeed when they are lighthearted comedies. On the contrary, the Enola Holmes series has never shied away from weighty, substantive themes, including government conspiracies, women’s rights, factory labor conditions, and the pressures of the class system. Enola is a resilient heroine. However, while the central mystery of Enola Holmes 3 ventures into profoundly dark territory—touching on war crimes and exploitation—the execution lacks the necessary thrill and momentum, leaving it out of sync with the franchise’s broader tone.
A Promising Start Giving Way to Routine Execution
The narrative opens with a wedding—the marriage of Enola and Lord Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge)—which feels ill-fated from the start. Filmed partly on location in Malta, the production boasts visually stunning cinematography. Transporting an Enola mystery outside of London is a compelling prospect, and the film initially kicks off with its trademark kinetic energy: Enola is running late to her own wedding, battling highwaymen while sprinting toward the church, all while grappling with cold feet.
However, this setup is abruptly upended by a shocking revelation: her beloved older brother, Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), has been kidnapped. The twist reveals that the wedding is not at all what it seems. In keeping with the series’ tradition, rapid flashbacks and energetic montages reconstruct the events leading up to this point. Yet, once the narrative settles back into the present day in Malta, the lack of that familiar momentum becomes glaringly apparent.
With the wedding called off, Enola attempts to mend a heartbroken Tewkesbury while pushing forward with her investigation, but events unfold at a breathless pace. Although Jack Thorne’s screenplay continuously stacks dramatic complications—Tewkesbury’s mother is abducted, their hotel is set ablaze, Maltese freedom fighters enter the fray, and a menacing old foe resurfaces—the entire endeavor feels strangely flat and soulless. Enola proceeds through her clue-gathering missions mechanically, moving from one crime scene to the next in a manner that feels more like a routine procedural than creative problem-solving.
A Mystery Lacking Depth
Despite its surface-level complexity, the core mystery lacks genuine depth. The detective work relies less on Enola’s sharp intellect and more on glaringly obvious observations, punctuated only by rapid camera zooms onto key pieces of evidence. For instance, a pivotal sequence meant to expose why Tewkesbury’s mother insisted on holding the wedding in Malta relies entirely on a flashback that Enola could not have possibly known about, offering little in the way of a satisfying explanation.
A retrospective look at the previous installments highlights why this franchise became such a success. The first film was brimming with unexpected, engaging plot twists that never forgot its target YA audience while remaining widely entertaining. The sequel, though slightly bloated and derivative of the original’s charms, still delivered an entertaining ride. At the time, it was suggested that future entries return to basics; unfortunately, that advice seems to have been taken too literally, resulting in a third chapter that feels overly simplistic and rudimentary.
The ultimate takeaway for the filmmakers is simple: let Enola truly grow up, and allow the narrative to be as complex and intelligent as its potential demands. Audiences are ready to transition to the next level of this story, but this installment’s mystery is certainly not what they were waiting for.
