The great thing about 'Sherlock Holmes' is that it's infused with humor, not in a slapstick way, but in the sense that the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. His chemistry with the other players, Law and McAdams in particular, keeps the liveliness high. HOLLY LEBER: I agree that this movie would be so much less without Downey playing Holmes as an eccentric anti-hero. Law, in particular, plays well off Downey under the starched collar of Holmes' long-suffering partner, Dr.

That should in no way be taken as a dismissal of Jude Law, Mark Strong or Rachel McAdams, all of whom fit their characters to a T as well. After you've seen him reeling around London in a drunken, super-intelligent haze, offending people as often as he impresses them, it's difficult to imagine anyone else doing Holmes justice. in the lead role, the film is a tremendous success.ĭowney makes this movie. Traditionally, Holmes is a gentleman detective, which doesn't seem compatible with Ritchie's approach, but thanks to excellent casting, especially Robert Downey Jr. CASEY PHILLIPS: Director Guy Ritchie's stylish, full-throttle films like 'Snatch' and 'RocknRolla' are some of my favorites, so when I heard he was directing a Sherlock Holmes movie, I was baffled but secretly hopeful.

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