If there is one actor in Hollywood who can demonstrate a successful and unprecedented comeback from near-extinction, it is Robert Downey Jr. (my apologies to Mel Gibson and Charlie Sheen). His success from portraying billionaire playboy Tony Stark in the Iron Man series is enough to make any A-lister jealous, but in 2009 the formerly troubled actor brought another established character to life in a unique way when he decided to tackle Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s infamous detective. I wasn’t overtly thrilled the first time I saw Sherlock Holmes two winters ago, but after re-watching the mystery and fully unraveling the plot, the true genius of the acting came through and it quickly became one of my favorite films. Needless to say, I was thrilled when A Game of Shadows was first announced, with Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, and Guy Ritchie all returning to see the quirky and surprisingly combatant detective confront his legendary literary nemesis, Professor Moriarty. The trailer was energetic, exciting, and seemed to promise a great deal more action than was seen in the original, so as a fan of the series I could not wait to see and review this much-anticipated sequel.
Given my reverence for the original, there was the very real possibility that A Game of Shadows would disappoint, but thankfully, the film is just as brilliant and entertaining, even surpassing its predecessor in a number of ways. He may be good as Tony Stark, but Robert Downey Jr. is mesmerizing as Sherlock Holmes, blending a smooth arrogance and an erratic sense of humor that amplifies his intelligence and adds even more enjoyment to his unique fighting style. When it comes to supporting cast, Jude Law complements Robert Downey Jr. perfectly, as the two co-stars share an undeniably close fraternal chemistry, but the best interactions come whenever Holmes faces-off against his nemesis. Jared Harris is menacing and toxic as Professor James Moriarty and the tense mental battles he engages in with Downey Jr.’s Holmes provide for some of the best interactions between hero and villain in recent memory. It may not have the same style and finesse as the original, but A Game of Shadows is more action-packed, easier to follow, and an all-around strong and entertaining follow-up that continues a wildly-popular franchise.
Overall Recommendation: Very High
