How to Watch: “Sherlock Holmes”

Step 1: Thrill from the word go. Fueled by director Guy Ritchie’s fast-paced action and Robert Downey Jr.’s uncanny skill at inventing his own unique spin on his characters, Sherlock Holmes thoroughly entertains from beginning to end.

Step 2: Break traditions. All those things we’ve come to know from past Sherlock Holmes adaptations are gone– no hounds-tooth coats or “Elementary, my dear Watson” lines here. Instead, Ritchie and others have returned to Arthur Conan Doyle’s books and short stories to uncover a less stodgy, more improved Holmes. Although he still possesses exquisite powers of deduction and smokes a pipe, turns out Holmes is also a boxer, a pretty handy martial artist and swordsman of sorts. An action hero for 1860s London, as it were. We meet the man (Downey Jr.) and his crime-busting partner John Watson (Jude Law) just as they apprehend known occult follower and murderer Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). But Blackwood has other plans. After seemingly hanged for his crimes, he resurrects himself from the dead, which throws the city into a tizzy. Inspector Lestrade (Eddie Marsan) of Scotland Yard once again calls Holmes in to help and since Holmes doesn’t believe Blackwood has magical powers, he feels a game is indeed afoot. He must also contend with an old flame Irene (Rachel McAdams), the only criminal to best Holmes. And don’t fear, Holmes’ fans: the detective’s arch nemesis Prof. Moriarty makes a brief yet veiled appearance, setting up the grand possibility of further Sherlock Holmes installments.

Step 3: Go, Sherlock! I’m just going to say it up front: I’d almost rather watch more adventures with Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes than with him as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Both characters are actually quite similar: mad geniuses, obsessed with science and technology, wanting to stop the bad guys with both their brains and their brawn. Yet, for me, there’s something infinitely cooler about collecting clues, solving mysteries and unraveling dastardly plans from master criminal minds, especially the way Downey Jr. as Holmes accomplishes it. He has created yet another indelible character, part literary legend and part, well, Downey Jr., who is fascinating all by himself.

Step 4: Don’t stop with the similarities. Stark and Holmes both also have loyal friends who are the voice of reason in their chaotic lives – Pepper Potts for Stark and Watson for Holmes. Yet, the Watson/Holmes match up is far more complex and rewarding. Just as Downey Jr. does with Holmes, Law breaks all Watson molds as the bumbling sidekick whose intellect falls short of his more lofty friend. Nothing could be further from the stereotype; this Watson simply kicks ass, with smarts on par with Holmes, even if he can’t see it all the different ways Holmes can. They bicker like an old married couple, and in this scenario, deal with the fact Watson has fallen in love and decided to get married. The tension only adds to their already sweetly dysfunctional relationship. Let’s just say, it’ll be hard from them to quit each other. McAdams also provides a nice touch to the proceedings as con artist Irene (a character taken from one of Doyle’s short stories). She’s Holmes’ Achilles heel. And finally, wonderful character actor Strong (Rocknrolla) plays the villainous Blackwood with aplomb.

Step 5: Visually, Sherlock Holmes rocks it, as well. Apparently a Holmes aficionado, Ritchie creates the detective’s world impeccably – a very industrial, very dark and wet 1860s London, down to riverfront tableaus and up to the building of the Tower Bridge. But of course, Ritchie’s forte is to deliver plenty of action, which he does with gusto, with cleverly inserted slow-mo shots and lots of fisticuffs. I’m so pleased Ritchie is back in top form with this and his previous film Rocknrolla, moving past his non-productive years while married to Madonna. Sign him up again for the next Sherlock adventure, pronto.

Level of difficulty in watching Sherlock Holmes: Oh-so-easy. It’s certainly one of the best films of the year for me, so here’s hoping it’ll open big and become more attractive as a Best Picture contender.