First things first, I confess. I'm a HUGE Robert Downey Jr. fan. And not just from when he acted as Tony Stark aka Iron Man, oh no. I've followed the man faithfully since his first role as a puppy in 1970's Pound (ok not that I was even born then, but you get the drift), and caught many of his less-than-awesome films. So obviously I could not stay away from watching the new movie Sherlock Holmes, bad ratings (2 stars, according to Life!, 64% on Rotten Tomatoes last time I checked) and dodgy rumours (possible more-than-friends relationship between Holmes and his loyal companion for one) notwithstanding.
Doesn't hurt that the rest of the cast includes...JUDE LAW! (Loved him since I saw him as a child in Gattaca) and Rachel McAdams (she looked sooo good). YES, I AM SHALLOW. :P
Anyway, if you're expecting a typical Sherlock Holmes story "about the world's most famous and recognized fictional detective", don't. I've never been a huge fan of the books, but I know enough to know that this movie is ANYTHING but the Sherlock Holmes as written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. (Random fact: My entire family loves Mr Holmes, so it's really a surprise that I've never been interested. Most of what I read about him comes from the internet). In any case, this movie is directed by Guy Ritchie (post-Madonna) so it's probably safe to assume the film should be pretty alright.
The plot of the movie goes as such: bad guy dabbles in the occult, kills off a couple of girls as 'sacrifices' and has an insane plan to take over the world (or something). Bombs! Explosions! Fights! (there's a very Fight Club-esque scene where RDJ and some big guy exchange blows while surrounded by a ring of cheering men) Mystery is solved with a lot of action...
Yeah, the plot isn't exactly mind-blowing. It's actually typical-action-adventure-mystery, though it wasn't that mysterious. I guess it's because everything was too well-explained and expected.
There are some funny moments here and there. RDJ's British accent made me laugh a little, as his film accents always do, like his Australian one in Natural Born Killers (1994) and Tropic Thunder (2008). I couldn't tell if Rachel McAdams was supposed to be American with a faux (and very, very fail) British accent, or just British 'cos she simply sounded WEIRD. Her 'accent', if you can even call it that, was all over the place. I guess that's why she didn't get many lines (honestly, she had, like, 10).
Jude Law and RDJ were cute though.
My favourite part was when they bickered like an old married couple (this is from memory so it might not be completely accurate): "You've never complained about my methods before!" "I never complain! When have I complained about you practicing your violin at 3 in the morning, or your mess, your lack of hygiene, or the fact that you steal my clothes!?" I will admit it made me laugh because it's so... typical!
I haven't seen a Jude Law movie in ages so it was really nice watching this and remembering why I liked him so much last time (I even liked him as that very fey robot in A.I.!) and everyone needs to watch that clip of him reading Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' like he was at a poetry reading.
Well ANYWAY (I do go on too much), the movie really isn't bad. I wouldn't say it's the best film of 2009 or anything (no way, that goes to District 9 or Inglourious Basterds for sure. Or Up, or A Serious Man, or Star Trek, or... okay I'm going to go on forever) but it's certainly enjoyable enough! It's typical popcorn fare, plus it has lots of eye-candy.