Enola Holmes is a detective, not just the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes. The first two films followed her solving cases and falling in love with Lord Tewkesbury. Now they are in their early twenties, and they have traveled to Malta, an island country in the Mediterranean, to get married. Then Sherlock disappears on their wedding day. Enola puts the wedding on hold to find him.

Millie Bobby Brown is still fun to watch when Enola gets into trouble, and a quick recap helps if you have forgotten the earlier films. But this third film keeps stopping the search to spend more time on the couple's relationship. Those scenes would be easier to enjoy if her brother were not missing.

Enola wants to get married without giving up her work

The story takes place in 1886. Marrying a wealthy lord would mean joining a family with expectations about how a wife should behave. Enola already has work she cares about, and Sherlock worries that marriage will stop her doing it. Her question is not just whether she loves Tewkesbury. It is whether she can keep being a detective after the wedding.

Brown makes that worry easy to understand. Enola talks straight to the camera, letting us hear thoughts she might not share with her future in-laws. Those little conversations with the viewer make Enola fun to watch, particularly when the wedding preparations leave her uncomfortable. They also help explain her doubts without needing a long argument every time.

Enola wears a wedding veil and holds white flowers at the window of a red carriage.
Enola travels to Malta to marry Lord Tewkesbury, before news of Sherlock interrupts the wedding.

Louis Partridge's Tewkesbury wants to help rather than order her around. There is affection in small moments, such as him braiding her hair. The film gives us reasons to believe they care about each other. The problem is when it decides to spend time showing that.

Sherlock is missing, but the film keeps taking breaks

Dr. Watson, Sherlock's colleague and flatmate, tells Enola about the disappearance and helps her investigate. Himesh Patel gives him a calm, practical manner that is welcome beside Enola's rushing and worrying. Watson feels like someone who can actually help her look for a missing person, not just another character waiting to make a joke.

The search begins with clues in Sherlock's hotel room. Words and graphics on screen help us follow what Enola notices. The case eventually involves the British military's past in Malta, bringing more people and secrets into the search. Following an individual clue is often easier than understanding how all these people fit together. The later explanations are less satisfying than the early promise of finding Sherlock.

Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes sits against a stone wall with his wrists tied.
Sherlock’s kidnapping sends Enola and Dr. Watson searching for him.

Meanwhile, Enola and Tewkesbury find time for a swim. It looks lovely, but it is difficult to relax with them while Sherlock is in danger. The romantic breaks make the rescue feel less urgent. This is not a complaint about including romance: their wedding is part of the premise. It is a complaint about asking us to fear for Sherlock and then forget about him for a while.

Enola and Tewkesbury sit facing each other on a green bench beneath a large tree.
Enola and Tewkesbury have to decide what married life would mean for them.

Director Philip Barantini gives Enola tense chases and escapes. A rescue from a burning building gives Enola something we can understand at once: get someone out before the fire makes it impossible. It is easy to worry about Enola when she runs into a burning building. Brown makes the running and fighting look difficult, even when we expect Enola to get away.

Pixel Twelve verdict

Enola Holmes 3 earns a Pixel Twelve score of 6/10. Brown's jokes to the camera, Patel's helpful Watson and the dangerous escapes make it worth watching for fans of these characters. But the confused investigation and poorly timed romantic scenes are substantial problems, not small details. Six means there is a fun film here in parts, not that it is a strong detective story.

Watch it if you already like Enola and Tewkesbury and want more time with them. If solving the case is what you come for, this sequel will probably frustrate you. New viewers can follow the setup, but starting with the first film makes more sense than meeting the couple on their wedding day.

Enola Holmes 3 is streaming on Netflix in the United States. See the film page for the trailer, cast and photos, or read more Pixel Twelve reviews.

More images from Enola Holmes 3

2 screenshots

Images: John Wilson / Netflix.

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