Christmas Weekend Movie Forecast: Holmes Vs. Parnassus

The latest addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon comes courtesy of Guy Ritchie, who directs Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams in a big-budget production. At first glance, it looks like typical slick Guy Ritchie bullshit, but The Playlist says, "Warner Bros. has done an aces job of hiding what they actually have in Sherlock Holmesâa competently intelligent, dark and dynamic action thrillerâand managed to sell it as a more-appealing adventure buddy comedy. And yes, while the film does contain elements of thatâit's occasionally goofyâit's much more genuinely amusing and satisfying than we would have imagined (yes, we were wrong and happy to admit it, but hey, with a 7/11 Tacquitos tie-in, cornball trailers and terrible posters, you have to admit they hoodwinked us all)."On the other hand, Benjamin Strong at L Mag writes, "Shit. Sherlock. Guy Ritchieâs polite take on everyoneâs favorite Victorian sleuth is one stolid English affair, a would-be franchise starter as devoid of its leading manâs eccentricities as its directorâs oft-underrated visual pizzazz... Instead of black magic to frighten us, Ritchie concocts a steampunk version of a weapon of mass destruction...and gives us the unsettling spectacle of Downey looking bored with his own subdued, appallingly conventional performance." — Gothamist

John Del Signore

Published Dec 23, 2009

Modified Dec 23, 2009

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Click on the film stills for more details and reviews on this weekend's new releases and repertory screenings, which include Sherlock Holmes; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus; It's Complicated; Police, Adjective; Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel; Christmas in July; Christmas on Mars; Back to the Future; Spaceballs; Blazing Saddles; and The Hurt Locker.

Christmas Weekend Movie Forecast: <em>Holmes</em> Vs. <em>Parnassus</em>