Sherlock Holmes (2009): Intellectually Hilarious

Anybody with a sophisticated sense of humor will have sore knees from slapping them so hard. They'll be guffawing over this Sherlock Holmes (2009) movie created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle because it features the most adorable kind of intelligent British humor and sorcery to tease the mind. 

What is it about actors screaming: "Good God!" that makes us want to laugh out loud?

With perfect mystery and suspense, there's enough supernatural darkness featured in this flick, I'm confident that fans of vampire lore will enjoy it, even while the film does not feature any traditional or glittering vampires. That's because Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) is the most brilliant sort of dark evildoer - the kind of loathsome human-swine you love to hate when he seems to raise himself from the dead.

In the beginning, Detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr., a most compelling actor) and his side-kick house-mate Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) foil Blackwood's plans to murder yet another virginal female, whose dressed in white, by means of black magic.

STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS:
The highly intelligent Dr. Watson anticipates marrying the sophisticated-looking and strong-minded Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly). That's while Holmes seems distracted by professional temptress, thief and fighting expert, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams).

There's also a hilarious Gypsy psychic reader woman  who stops Holmes and Watson on the street with her compelling knowledge. As her reading continues, her mind seems to wander: "Oh. I see patterned table clothes, and oh, china figurines and oh lace doilies." She goes on to predict Watson's soon-to-be wife turns fat and become covered in warts. 

COMPELLING QUOTES:
Cemetary Attendant: When the dead walk, the living will fill these coffins.


Beautiful Adler: By the looks of things, I assume you are between jobs.
Witty Mr. Holmes: And you between husbands. 

Adler: Why are you always so suspicious? 
Holmes: Should I answer chronologically or alphabetically? 

Nanny (interrupting Holmes who suffers from a hangover): "Tea, Mr. Holmes?"
Holmes: "Is it poisoned? Nanny?" 
Nanny: "There's enough of that in you already."

Inspector Lestrade (shady character): "In another life, Mr. Holmes, you would have made a excellent criminal." 
Holmes: "Yes, and you sir an excellent policeman."

WONDERFUL STUNTS:
Whether things are blowing up, heroes explode with fire, or Holmes leaps from buildings to land on hard earth or in cold water, the stunts and special effects in this film are top notch. It's very fun to rewind and watch them again and again. 

MUSIC: 
Great Irish/Gypsy-sounding tunes by German composer Hans Zimmer. Much of the background sounds are subtle but quirky distorted piano notes and woodwind music. Holmes seems to enjoy plucking a violin in a most awkward-sounding fashion.

COMPLAINTS:
Movie is too dark, visually, in the beginning and it's difficult to see what's really going on but there are very excellent knuckle-fighting and slapping scenes later on that make up for it. 

I also regret any movie that makes the torture of animals seem funny. In this flick, Holmes is constantly performing medical experiments on Gladston, the bulldog. I felt offended by that even when the movie repeatedly shows the dog as being unharmed.

Funny quote - Nanny: "Uck. You've killed the dog. Again."

I felt grateful to have watched this on DVD (instead of at the theater) because I could stop to rewind areas where the dialogue was too easily missed. Replaying always made me glad that  I captured that part of the intelligence.

GREAT FIGHT SCENE ON YOUTUBE