The pulling factor for me, like most other audience I presume, was Millie Bobby Brown - the girl who got famous as El in Stranger Things. Of course there was the Sherlock connection as well to look forward to. But after a while, Millie's charm could not pull off the lousy writing of the film and the Sherlock connection wasn't of the 'wow' variety either.

The film starts with Enola in pursuit of her missing mother, who disappears one night without rhyme or reason. While that seems like an interesting hook point for a film, the pay off at the end is plain lackadaisical. Enola's brothers Sherlock and Mycroft come to her. Her relationship with both is strained and you just don't know why. Perhaps you are expected to do some homework and come prepared reading Sherlock history. Further the plot digresses to a young Prince running away from his royal family. And when this Prince is shot in the chest in the pre-climax and he pulls out his bullet-proof vest to show that he smartly saved himself, you know that the narrative has turned as formulaic and old as it's ancient setting.

Despite the fact that search for her mother seems like a solemn conflict, the narrative is far from the serious tone and Enola remains lively and effervescent throughout. The mood is pretty upbeat. However the 'talking-to-camera' style of storytelling loses its effect when the makers overdo it. To its credit, the film oozes an old-world charm with its picturesque town, vintage train compartments, steam-engine running motor cars and ancient London setting. However the screenplay gets muddled with archiac subplots of a political conspiracy and a power-tussle in royal family formula.

After a point you don't care for the characters or the story. Disappointing!