Guy Richie’s 2009 reboot of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most famous creation heralded a long overdue return to form for the English director. But perhaps more importantly, the film was a huge commercial success; taking a massive $524,028,679 box office return from a budget of $90 million. With figures like these a sequel was inevitable; and true to Hollywoodform Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows has followed hot on the heels of its predecessor. Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law return in their roles of Holmes and Watson respectively and Jared Harris joins the cast as Holmes’ ultimate advisory Professor Moriarty.A Game of Shadows is a film that is, in many ways, very difficult to review as it is, both in terms of theme and performance, very similar to its predecessor. Downey Jr and Law still share a strong on screen chemistry and this combination still has the power to captivate and entertain an audience. The two leads are well supported by Kelly Reilly (as the long suffering Mrs Holmes), the underused Jared Harris as Moriarty and the spectacular Stephen Fry who produces a show stealing performance as Mycroft Holmes. Visually, A Game of Shadows is very much consistent with its predecessor with Guy Ritchie continuing to utilise his ultra slick visual style in the period setting of the narrative.
The film does have its problems however. Most notably the use of the character of Moriarty; As Sherlock Holmes’ greatest nemesis, Moriarty’s character was scandalously under utilised in Game of Shadows. This under use of one of the most important characters in the Sherlock Holmes story is extremely disappointing and something of an insult to both Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legacy and the not inconsiderable acting talents of Jared Harris. The film’s plot also feels like a rehash of the first film just with a slightly different supporting cast.
Overall, Game of Shadows is a solid enough sequel which compliments the first film well enough. The film fulfils the audience’s expectations but makes very little effort to expand on the visual and thematic tone established by the first film. Everybody involved in the film gives a functional performance here but nobody involved makes any effort to escape their comfort zone whatsoever. Game of Shadows is, in many ways the very definition of cinematic popcorn fodder.
