Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

It's none too clever, but Guy Ritchie's second Sherlock Holmes thriller is certainly big. With all the skill and showmanship of a master magician, Ritchie weaves a yarn that is always entertaining, even though we know it's one big con.

The hype…
The great detective is back, and Guy Ritchie is ready to pitch his incarnations of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson against their greatest foe: Professor Moriarty. But the question isn't whether they can emerge triumphant, rather it's whether Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law can rekindle the chemistry that made their first outing so popular.

The story…
Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) is in a state of frenzy. He has been monitoring a series of mysterious bombings around Europe, and isn't at all inclined to believe newspaper reports of anarchists and international politicking. His own investigations have all led to a shady academic called Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris).

Unfortunately, Holmes can't tackle the devious mastermind alone and he is forced to call on the help of old friend Dr. Watson (Jude Law) once more. With his wedding imminent, Watson is none-too-pleased, but with the scale of the problem rapidly becoming clear, he has no choice but to return to the partnership.

Aided by a gypsy (Noomi Rapace) with connections to a key conspirator, the group set off on a pan-European journey to stop a World War.

The breakdown…
Fans of Ritchie's first outing with Holmes will be pleased to hear that this version deploys just as much comedy, bravado, and balls-out action as its predecessor. More so, in fact. Fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's detective novels will be less enamoured with the film, which is less an exercise in smart sleuthing and more a sleight of hand designed to cover the absence of genuine mystery.

The ropey motivation installed for Holmes in an overlong first act is a sign of what to expect, as Ritchie spends more time playing up his character's quirks and affectations, (as well as his own stylistic flourishes), than he does introducing Moriarty and precisely why Holmes is so certain of his devious plot.

But once we came to accept that this isn't a film in which a clever plot slowly unravels, but rather a serious of amusing and exciting events, we settled in and had a lot of fun.

Every sequence in the film is a play on Holmes' deductive method. A conundrum is planted, Holmes makes his observation, and everything comes to a head in a skillfully choreographed battle (of mind and body) that really gets the adrenaline pumping. Ritchie is adept at cinematic sizzle, and, with the skill of a magician, he hides his hand carefully until it's time for a grand reveal - always delivered with flair and showmanship.

Particularly praiseworthy are a battle at a munitions factory and the final face-off (which Holmes fans may find familiar). The two scenes combining action, adrenaline and style to great effect.

Elsewhere, after a slight false start, the bromance between Holmes and Watson is quickly rekindled too. Watson may be somewhat further relegated to sidekick status in this outing, but the chemistry between Downey Jr. and Law is not at all diminished for any of that.

[See also: 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' review]

The film also benefits from the welcome addition of a deadpan Stephen Fry, playing Holmes's aristocratic brother Mycroft. He pops up in opportune moments to deliver deftly wry chuckles and a neat dose of old-school Englishness.

The verdict…
It's not the intelligent detective thriller some might hope for, but Holmes's return brings with it some stellar showmanship that will wow willing audiences this Christmas.

Rating: 3.5/5

'Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows' is due to be released in the UK on 16 December. Certificate 12A.