The story led Sherlock (or Sherly as Wyecroft insisted on calling him), and the gang across Europe in a quest to stop Holmes' archenemy Moriarty (Jared Harris) from causing a World War. Along the way Downey Jr. displays his surprisingly good comic timing as the audience is left wondering what crazy disguise Sherlock will think of next; he appears as everything from being dressed as a woman, to an old Chinese man.
There's no shortage of action; the characters are always running, jumping, shooting off guns, being thrown from trains. The action is offset with the intense scenes between Holmes and Moriarty, that show there is potentially a good story there; and that it isn't just an action movie. Even though this is a plus, it's also a negative; those scenes are like gems within the film itself; brief insights into Holmes, and Moriarty. You're often left wanting more wondering what makes these characters tick; what's driving the rivalry between these two men so ideally matched? Why are they so ruthless in their pursuit of one another? I guess all of that is fodder for a sequel.
The movie has an open-ending; the audience knows of Holmes' fate, but nothing of Moriarty's. I would have made it more subtle and left Holmes' fate unknown as well, and just left Watson with a mysterious clue.
If you're looking for an escape this holiday season go see Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows. On a scale of 1-5 I'd give it a solid 3.5 out of 5.
