Sherlock Holmes has always been something of a superhero. In the pages of Arthur Conan Doyle’s books, there is very little he can’t accomplish. Of course, he’s aided by copious drug use and the occasional assist from John Watson — but Sherlock’s genius was always the star of the show. For all his interest in cool, Ritchie makes sure to leave that intelligence undisturbed in “Sherlock Holmes.” It just happens to live side-by-side with a bit of petulant, laddish behavior and designs on rugged action stardom.
As the title character, Robert Downey Jr. is pulling off an interesting feat. Sherlock had not felt so vibrant, so propulsive, so delightfully weird, in a very long time. Downey’s Sherlock is still whip-smart (a trait we get to witness with a bit of well-timed slow motion) but he’s as much a fighter as he is a thinker. Paired with Jude Law’s Watson — doctor, conspirator, and long-term roommate — “Sherlock” takes on the qualities of an odd couple action comedy.
The characters in their orbit aren’t nearly as interesting, though Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong do their very best. The true star of the show might just be Ritchie’s sweaty, steampunk take on Victorian London. The bulk of the film’s action sequences are designed to give us a tour of this reimagined city, while a sinewy score from Hans Zimmer delivers a sense of off-beat adventure. No, this is not a completely faithful adaptation, but it’s good fun either way — and Ritchie deserves some kudos for that.