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ShoWest: Sherlock Holmes is a Comedy? Is It That Bad?

by Alex Billington
March 31, 2009

Earlier today at ShoWest in Las Vegas, Warner Brothers president Alan Horn lead a "State of the Industry" presentation, and debuted the first trailer for Sherlock Holmes. The first thing you need to know is that this isn't the Sherlock Holmes you know... It a funky way, it's kind of like if Snatch were about a British detective from the 1800s, which is exactly what it is, thanks to Guy Ritchie writing and directing. The reaction didn't seem to be overly positive, at least coming from a few other writers that I know. It is a bit of a shock at first, because it's such a big departure from expectations, and I hope most people still like it.

But is it good? To be honest, I enjoyed it, it looked very fun. I'm not expecting anything incredible, and although I do really appreciate Guy Ritchie (I loved both Snatch and even RocknRolla), I wasn't expecting a new Guy Ritchie classic like Snatch. Honestly, I'm just expecting a good popcorn flick, which is exactly what it looks like. The first big shocker is that this looks like a buddy comedy, not a serious movie, with some really zany British humor that may really turn off quite a few people. But of course, you'll all get your own taste of that whenever you get to see this trailer, and can judge for yourself whether it works or not.

Then I remember that it's Robert Downey Jr., in that signature top hat, with his signature pipe, and with six pack abs and no shirt (in one scene where he's boxing another guy), kicking some serious ass, and I'm reminded why I actually still am looking forward to this. I just think it looks fun and although it'll be wacky and not as dark as I was probably originally hoping, it'll still be great. And unlike other online writers, I didn't have a problem with the accent (see Collider), because I care so much more about acting and visuals than his accent. That said, the comedy was very off-putting, but I'm sure I'll warm up to it fairly quickly.

Filed under Hype, Opinions, ShoWest

From around the web:

Marcus

Aha, British comedy for a British character by a British director. Thats damned right! I cant wait, especially bein a Brit myself. How long again? December? Damn. Waaaay to far away!
L

I was hoping it would be dramatic, but I think that this in a comedy role could be awesmoe too. I just didnt expect it to be
Rabs

Ditto #2. I don't think it'll be a bad thing that Ritchie is going for laughs, I was just kind of hoping/expecting it to be dark & cool.
Xerxex

good, this is what I was expecting.
http://entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com

Sherlock Holmes in any form is not a slamdunk sure thing. It not something the masses will really be excited about. Chuck
Colin Boyd

Whose signature top hat is Downey wearing? Mr. Peanut's? Holmes wore a deerstalker.
Chuck Norris

I was hoping for a more dramatic story, but in the back of my mind I kind of knew that, with Guy Ritchie at the helm, it would turn out this way instead. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I'm sure I'll still go see it.
Greedo the Rodian

"I'm the dude playing the dude who's solving the mysteries!"
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4120/sppunx06oa5.jpg Crapola

He's an opium smoking boxing detective, I always thought that was funny. I reckon it'll be good, Guy Ritchie always has comedy in his films.
Justin

Bring it on! Can't wait to this Mr Richie.
dom

''zany British humor that may really turn off quite a few people'' ---- You americans need to wake up and stop trying to make every movie to your bugger fancying tastes! There's a multitude of ways to make a movie, and if its a british classic, then it should be done in a british tone! I for one will enjoy it for that!!
dom

opps bugger was meant to read burger - hmm or was it now..
zedzero

Guy Ritchie is a tosser. He can only do one kind of movie. This should have been as dark as f**k. He should do a 'Carry On Gangsta' movie.
Lacey

Why does everything have to be "dark as f**k?" I have faith in Guy Ritchie!
Jim

Am I the only one excited about the comparison to Snatch? Snatch is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time so this is awesome. My only worry is that the Holmes villian might not fit in to that style but I like the idea of the chemistry of holmes and watson to be similar to that of Turkish and Tommy.
Fisherr

lol@ #9
1-7

Guy Ritchie is a one-trick pony. Lock, Stock was fantastic and so was Snatch but his films afterward all carried a stench of familiarity and repeated history. It's probably better that he's doing what he does best and making repetitive british gangster comedies.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

I was hoping it would be dramatic. Aren't Will Ferrell & Sacha Baron Cohen supposed to be doing the comedy version?
http://www.dreamlinks.com/ Dating in Toronto

I think it would have been better if it wasn't a comedy. But as a serious movie they probably would have epically botched it anyway. So if i had to pick between a well done movie that had an awkward fit for its genre (and a crowded genre at that); and a poorly done film that fit its source material... I guess I'll go with option (A)
Danielle

"Whose signature top hat is Downey wearing? Mr. Peanut's? Holmes wore a deerstalker." Oh, author of #6, Sherlock Holmes fans the world over are wailing and gnashing their teeth.