I absolutely adored this sequel, just as much as I did the first movie. Right away I can note on its great pacing, I did not find myself bored the whole film. The greater inclusion of Enola's older brother Sherlock (Henry Cavill) added a great new dynamic and relationship to the movie without stealing the spotlight (I know it was there in the last movie, but this time there was a bigger focus on their relationship). The storyline was clever, but not so difficult that as viewers, we couldn't guess along the way and solve the mystery with the Holmes siblings.
I must also praise Millie Bobby Brown for her use of breaking the fourth wall. It was not intrusive or annoying, she would merely tease us by giving an occasional wink or glance, which was enough to keep us charmed by her. I am usually not a fan of breaking the fourth wall, but this movie hit the sweet-spot on being tasteful enough that I did not mind. The fight sequences were fun and kept you on the edge of your seat, and so did the slow building anticipation on the romance between Tewkesbury and Enola. Grail was a scary but well-developed antagonist, depicted perfectly by David Thewlis.
The set design, costumes, and stunts were all done really well, and it certainly set the scene of old London. As well as this, the whole cast can take credit for the strong chemistry they showed which really shined through in their body language enhancing this whole movie. The strong feminist undertone was clear, and using a real world example of the Match Factory girls really brought this movie to life. It was a fun, empowering and entertaining film that you will certainly catch me watching again, so if you liked the first, don't hesitate to check this one out!
