Why "Young Sherlock Holmes" Is Better Than It Seems

Using the traditional Sherlock Holmes setting and characters, comes Holmes and Watson’s so-called “first adventure” from the pen of Chris Columbus—not based on the Sherlock Holmes detective stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

It’s a rather goodly story in the vein of Holmes and Watson but with elements reminiscent of Steven Spielberg produced films at the time, Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, quite a bit disturbing for some perhaps. Spielberg produced Young Sherlock Holmes. Even some of the action shots evoke a Spielbergian selection.

Therefore, the film might suit the right demographic. Even so, it is rather conventional and plays things straight despite the special effects.

Story

There is an ancient Egyptian ceremony in Victorian England and therein hangs a plot.

Holmes finds himself in the midst of his so-called first adventure when he is at school. There he meets the young Watson, and he is in love with Elizabeth and hopes to make her his lifelong companion. He does not want to be alone is his ambition in life when asked the scholastic question, “What are you going to do with your life”. Yet he’s out solving a mystery in the second act and beyond, involving serial murders that seem linked. He would like to be promoted as a detective with Scotland Yard but is overlooked despite his obvious sleuthing skills. So, he goes it alone, with Watson of course, and Elizabeth. Though there should be schooling to do...

Critique

Things could have been better written. The material – including Holme’s later film sadness – needed better development. The quality of this film could have been better though the material presented potential.

Holmes' sadness needed fleshing out. Maybe the pragmatic universalism as the answer for Holmes' deep wound which left behind a profound sadness is not enough, though there is belief in an afterlife which seemed to offer hope. The hole that is in Holmes’ heart towards the end makes for interesting foreshadowing of Holmes' later life and does not add to the film’s mostly genial demeanour, but a layer of deep character may have contributed to a better film. Holmes’ disturbance subtle as it is here is psychological, but it is the physically disturbing elements which are off-putting -- nightmarish and hallucinogenic -- and there was too much profanity of G*d’s name.

Personal Response

I have mixed feelings about Young Sherlock Holmes. I liked the conventionality and straightforwardness but at a point it begins to feel uninvolving.

Holmes is uninteresting and when he embarks on the case, the endeavour is not as interesting as it should be, as I am not behind Holmes.

Holmes suffers from a lack of humanity. He appears judgmental when summing up a competitor for the love of his life. That could have treated with a lighter touch.

However, I slowly warmed to Holmes and the goodly story of good versus evil, right and wrong, and friendship, loyalty, and commitment--all Christian-orientated. I think I’ll come down on the positive rather than dwell on the negative. On warming up to proceedings, it all ends on an uplifting note along with Bruce Broughton’s universally up score.

Main cast: Nicolas Rowe, Alex Cox, Sophie Ward, Anthony Higgins, Susan Fleetwood, Freddie Jones. Screenplay: Chris Columbus. Special effects: ILM (Industrial Light and Magic). Director: Barry Levinson. Released December 6, 1985 (USA), March 21, 1986 (UK).