Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Critic Reviews

It's complete trash and makes a mockery of Holmes's vaunted deductive reasoning.

Downey's career is something of a game of shadows, but it's one still worth playing, for now.

Downey and Law remain this presumptive franchise's draw.

What this film really celebrates is crunch-and-thud video-game-style action, not especially well choreographed by director Guy Ritchie.

-Peter RainerFull Review

It doesn't take a master of deduction to see that Ritchie has decided to play it too safe with this sequel.

-Bruce DemaraFull Review

In an act of criminal negligence, Ritchie has wasted Robert Downey Jr. in a sequel that eliminates smarts in favor of relentless headbanging.

-Peter TraversFull Review

Downey may think this interpretation is an insight, or funny, but it pushes what was already a rude rewriting of the classic characters into eye-rolling camp. And it throws everything off balance.

-Stephen WhittyFull Review

I was let down by this loud and flashy but utterly empty sequel.

-Richard RoeperFull Review

This movie wants to be a horse but, even measured in box-office millions, it's just another nag.

-Rick GroenFull Review

Something of an overlong, overblown, disorganized mess, despite being slightly better than its predecessor.

-Connie OgleFull Review

Ritchie's franchise - 7% classic formula, 93% adrenaline - is smart in a showoffy way that flatters its star as well as its audience.

-Joe NeumaierFull Review

The skill level in the script is elementary school, my dear Watson.

-Kyle SmithFull Review

It's a modest improvement on bad-boy director Guy Ritchie's first tweaking of Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic detective.

-Mark JenkinsFull Review

There's nothing here but wreckage. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" is so ineptly made that the story is advanced solely through announcements.

-Mick LaSalleFull Review

As Johnny Depp has done so brilliantly with his devilish Jack Sparrow, Downey has made this sly sardonic Sherlock stylistically all his own. Case closed.

-Betsy SharkeyFull Review

The game is now afoot with Holmes' arch-nemesis, Professor James Moriarity -- and that makes a notable difference. This time, Holmes is up against an equal, and it's elementary indeed that muscle and firepower alone won't carry the day.

-Charlie McCollumFull Review

This new outing matches the original Sherlock in wit, action and the bromance between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

-Joy TippingFull Review

The chemistry between Watson and Holmes is spotty, and their banter grows tedious.

-Claudia PuigFull Review

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows doesn't rip enough yarn.

-Andrew LapinFull Review

"Diminishing returns" is a description that applies to many film series. "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" is a delicious exception.

-Colin CovertFull Review

Virtually every set-up and set-piece in this extravagantly tedious adventure is misleading, or worse, irrelevant.

-Steven ReaFull Review

Can a movie be hyperactive and lazy at the same time? Clever and idiotic? If the director is Guy Ritchie, the questions answer themselves.

-A.O. ScottFull Review

There's ... a desire for coherence and humanity in movies. This one doesn't feed it.

-Joe MorgensternFull Review

This is Bob Downey, simultaneously playing the fool and pulling your leg, and even at his dumbest he's semi-irresistible.

-Andrew O'HehirFull Review

The shadow in this game is the imposing penumbra of Ritchie's very satisfying 2009 film. It's overt and overwhelming.

-Richard CorlissFull Review

"What do you see?'' the gypsy girl asks him. "Everything,'' Holmes replies. "That is my curse.'' If Downey has a curse, it'll be called "Sherlock Holmes 3.''

-Ty BurrFull Review

Here, as before, part of the movie's perversely cheeky design is that it throws away its own cleverness.

-Owen GleibermanFull Review

As big, loud moviemaking goes it's not quite as devoid of charm as it could have been, and things being as they are these days, that's saying something.

-Glenn KennyFull Review

Even at its worst the movie is redeemed by the presence of two fine British character actors playing Conan Doyle regulars: Stephen Fry as Holmes's waggish older brother, Mycroft, and Jared Harris as the fiendish Dr. Moriarty.

-J. R. JonesFull Review

You may ponder: Would this movie actually be less aggravating with Adam Sandler in it, playing twins?

-Michael PhillipsFull Review

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