Mr. Holmes Parent Guide

Unless you have a teen who is an ardent fan of Baker Street’s most notable resident, you can nearly be certain this is a movie they won’t care for. Arthur Conan Doyle’s immortal character is reengineered once again, but not as the obsessive genius made popular by Benedict Cumberbatch or the cocky gumshoe delivered by Robert Downey Jr. In this mystery our Sherlock is an aging gentleman who is dealing with the onset of dementia which is clouding his ability to discern between fact and fiction.

Mr. Homes (Ian McKellen) resides in a country home, is cared for by his housekeeper Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney) and is entertained by her young son Roger (Milo Parker). It’s 1947 and while the rest of the country is still rebuilding from the war, our protagonist is doing his best to try and recall what happened. One specific memory he is struggling with is why, 35 years ago, he would have ever left his profession and chosen to live in exile. The only thing he can assume is that he failed to solve his final case—or did he?

Complicating the matter, his assistant John Watson took up the life of an author, writing stories about the cases they were attempting to solve. (It’s an interesting premise considering Doyle’s novels were written from Watson’s first person perspective.) Referring to Watson’s writings, Holmes is certain his loyal assistant embellished the facts on many cases, and formulated a successful conclusion for the final one. But, if that true, then what really happened? Searching for the answer becomes a near obsession for the retired detective. The mental anguish is also making him more difficult to care for. This is leading Mrs. Munro to consider finding another situation, as well as become more concerned about the time Roger is spending with their charge.

This movie includes the mature themes of aging and suicide (we see a person facing an oncoming train). Thankfully other content issues are few and include only a youngster covered with insect stings and a smoker who is briefly seen. There were no sexual content or profanities noted.

Based on Mitch Cullin’s novel A Slight Trick of the Mind, this is a film that demands constant attention to what’s taking place on screen. Three storylines weave through just as many time periods, representing the somewhat cluttered collage of visual memories inhabiting Holmes’ dimming mind. The reward for your close observation is an unexpected conclusion sure to stimulate after-movie discussions about the loneliness, economic class distinctions and the nature of humans to embellish facts and even tell falsehoods to alleviate grief. You’ll also get to see some incredible acting and beautiful cinematography. It’s a bit of heavy lifting but Mr. Holmes is worth the weight.

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.