Overlooked among the deluge of other holiday films, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly delivered yet another adaptation of the Great Detective and his trusted Dr. Watson. Written by Etan Cohen, who is best known for writing and directing Idiocracy and Tropic Thunder, Holmes and Watson attempts to put a humorous spin on Conan Doyle’s infamous pair. This new film attempts to bridge the gap between fans of Step Brothers and Talladega Nights and those who are familiar with the Holmes canon. However, to those not in the section of the venn diagram which overlaps, the film may seem confusing, unfunny, and downright boring.
Since its Christmas release, the movie has garnered a measly 8% from critics, and 28% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. Most reviews claim that the movie is not worth watching and breaks from tradition for Ferrell and Reilly. However, it seems that fans of the canon and other Holmesian adaptations might at least enjoy the references placed throughout. Additionally, the promise of a musical number and cameos from British names like Hugh Laurie, Steve Coogan, and Rob Brydon are almost tempting enough to inspire some Sherlockians to give it a shot.
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Written by Rebekah Small