Almost brings off what's considered impossible: a good Sherlock Holmes spoof. Ben Kingsley is a superb Watson, who is the real brains behind Sherlock Holmes. Holmes has to memorize everything Watson writes out about each case. Jeffrey Jones is a wonderful, longsuffering Lestrade, who seems genuinely flummoxed that Holmes beats him to every solution, and rolls his eyes at Holme's more ridiculous suggestions -- and yet is so intrigued by the success of Holmes' foolishness actually works he follows Holmes around like a puppy, trying to pick up how he does it.
The weak link is Michael Caine, who is supposed to be a dead ringer for the Holmes of the magazine illustrations -- but who doesn't look anything like him. Caine may have good comic timing, but his Holmes is utterly unconvincing (it would, in fact, have been a coup to get Jeremy Brett for the part).
A lot of the humor works, some of it doesn't, and the big climax, while having some good gags, doesn't come off too impressively. Nevertheless, it's the best Holmes comedy out there, with a solid script and more good ideas than other attempts, such as Billy Wider's "Private Life of Sherlock Holmes".
The weak link is Michael Caine, who is supposed to be a dead ringer for the Holmes of the magazine illustrations -- but who doesn't look anything like him. Caine may have good comic timing, but his Holmes is utterly unconvincing (it would, in fact, have been a coup to get Jeremy Brett for the part).
A lot of the humor works, some of it doesn't, and the big climax, while having some good gags, doesn't come off too impressively. Nevertheless, it's the best Holmes comedy out there, with a solid script and more good ideas than other attempts, such as Billy Wider's "Private Life of Sherlock Holmes".