Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Review
By Simon Jago

After the success of the BBC drama ‘Sherlock’ it’s impossible not to compare another recent adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s source material. After  enjoying Guy Richie’s first Sherlock adventure, I began watching ‘Game of Shadows’ desperately trying to ignore the television series but I just couldn’t do it, the similarities in style, despite being set a over one hundred years apart were too great.

The film takes place a few years later from the exploits of the first. Watson (Jude Law) is set to get married, much to the dismay of Sherlock, brought to life by another wacky performance from Robert Downey Jr. However, the honeymoon is cut short, literally, by the violent endeavours of their fiercest adversary yet, Professor James Moriarty (Jared Harris). Let the ‘Game of Shadows’ begin.

At first, I really struggled with this film, my grievances with the first ‘Sherlock Holmes’ being evident yet again in this one. I found the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law a little cold, just like the first film it was as if neither one knew who was the supporting role. Combined with what felt like dialogue trying too hard to capture a comedic element to Sherlock’s eccentric nature the film failed to capture me. However, once Jared Harris’s Moriarty began to play a bigger role in the film and the plot started to thicken I found myself drawn in. With some excellent Guy Ritchie set pieces and great use of the Sherlock vision where he analyses everything at super-speed this film quickly became an extremely enjoyable adventure.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows  really lags in places, and as much as I hate to do it, you can’t help but compare it to the excellent TV series ‘Sherlock’. The appearance of  national treasure Stephen Fry as Sherlock’s brother Mycroft is not as funny as it could be and the film has a more muddled pace than the first. However, with Guy Ritchie directing Robert Downey ‘Iron Man’ Jr in this polished Victorian adventure, it’s elementary my dear boy… This film is well worth a watch.