Film Review – Enola Holmes 3 (2026)

      Enola Holmes 3, 2026.

      Directed by Phillip Barantini.

      Featuring Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Joe Azzopardi, Bern Collaço, Susan Wokoma, Jason Watkins, Peter Winfield, and Mike Parish.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Detective Enola Holmes travels to Malta, where her ambitions intertwine in her most intricate and perilous case to date.

      One might not pay much attention to the directing/writing team behind Netflix’s Enola Holmes series, which is not meant as a slight but rather a recognition that they aren't particularly recognized names. However, while watching Enola Holmes 3, it becomes clear that a different director is in charge, as this installment feels largely like a meandering, wedding-themed side story, punctuated by a mystery that appears obligatory, filled with familiar character cameos instead of delivering genuine suspense and intrigue.

      Although the film opens with narration confidently stating that all great movies either start or conclude with a wedding (which is puzzling since many good and bad films have no connection to marriage), it fails to deliver on that assertion or meet the standards set by the first two films.

      With Phillip Barantini stepping into the directorial role (Jack Thorne remains as screenwriter, drawing from Nancy Springer’s novels), nearly every aspect of Enola Holmes 3 feels like a contractual obligation, with characters appearing briefly only to be put aside or showing up unexpectedly in a plot that doesn’t engage with the central issue of whether marriage is suitable for the young detective, who is starting to find her own identity. She is now essentially on an equal skill level with her brother Sherlock (once again portrayed by Henry Cavill, though with such minimal screen time that one might suspect scheduling issues), focusing more on helping those in need and addressing social matters rather than engaging with high society.

      Chaos ensues during a destination wedding in Malta, where Enola is set to marry her upper-class boyfriend, Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge). Naturally, she begins to have second thoughts, given the constraints of Victorian gender roles and her reluctance to lose herself or her detective agency to married life, which causes her to contemplate the decision and even makes her late for the ceremony.

      More compelling than the main story is a subplot featuring a Maltese man named Mikiel Mizzi (Joe Azzopardi, whose character becomes a punchline by continually repeating his name when introducing himself) who has justifiable reasons for resentment towards the British presence. This subplot ties into the central mystery involving Sherlock Holmes's kidnapping in Malta, along with some dubious invited guests, several of whom go missing or end up dead in an ungraceful manner.

      Depending on how closely one observes the opening sequence or considers the cast list, the film offers few surprises regarding the mystery, which is disappointing for a movie of this genre. At times, it seems content to recycle characters from previous films, hoping that a nostalgic compilation of familiar faces will serve as effective plot twists. The fact that it does this while continuing to push Malta's struggles and Mikiel’s story almost feels insulting. If one merely wants to see these characters interact again, centered around a wedding that may or may not conclude as expected, it might be sufficient, given the strong performances and casting. However, all the elements that made the series a delightful and unexpected gem in a sea of forgettable streaming content are absent.

      The fourth-wall breaking from Enola Holmes is significantly reduced, there are fewer visual enhancements (though Netflix's budget still showcases some stunning travelogue visuals), the narrative fails to comment meaningfully on Victorian marriage or the ongoing issues in Malta, and the detective's investigation lacks the sharpness of previous entries, which is puzzling given that the writing team remains the same.

      This isn’t to say that the film is entirely bad or unenjoyable; it is simply a notable step down from its predecessors. Although the case involving Sherlock Holmes's kidnapping starts with promise, it becomes hindered by underwhelming reveals and dull storytelling. Millie Bobby Brown still shines in her role, making it moderately entertaining, but the change in direction leads to a loss of flair, wit, and overall quality. Moreover, Enola Holmes 3 has an odd feel of being an unnecessary epilogue or a 2.5 installment.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder