The famous detective Sherlock Holmes has been adapted in various ways over the years. One such example can be read in author Ho Lai's series of illustrated children's books which sees the iconic mystery-solver set in a world of anthropomorphic animals. Just a few years after release, the first story arc of his books was adapted in “Sherlock Holmes and the Great Escape” directed by Chow Matthew and Yuen Toe.
The brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes is on the trail of Mack, more notoriously known as White Storm: a thief who steals from the rich to give to the poor. However, after arresting Mack in front of his daughter, Katie, Holmes faces the town's ridicule. 4 years later, when Mack and a violent inmate escape prison, it is up to Holmes and Watson to catch the two and set right their past mistake.
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The film is 3D animated, featuring characters rendered using cel-shading that makes them pop from the non-outlined backgrounds. Though the animation does not convince as a 2-dimensional animated feature, the art direction imitates the medium well enough that the charm comes through. Regarding the backdrops, the sets scarcely employ straight, parallel lines. For example, within Holmes's office, shelves curve and photo frames tilt at differing angles. This technique gives the locations an organic feel. Meanwhile, the action sequences utilize the 3D animation for dynamic shots with an engaging sense of space. Lastly, one of the film's most notable visual qualities occurs when Holmes conducts his iconic deductions. During these segments, characters appear as plastic figures in a simplified recreation of events. The display is not only humorous but is a creative way to invite the viewer into the detective's head space.
In spite of its cute exterior, the movie achieves a surprising degree of threat later on. Regarding the story, the pursuit of the on-the-move escapee gives the plot a sense of immediacy that lends itself to exciting encounters. As opposed to unraveling a large and complex crime, the mystery elements are rather contained. Be that as it may, Holmes's deductions are nonetheless clever, resulting in more than a few satisfying payoffs. The character of Holmes is utilized to the story's advantage. The incident that incites the conflict demonstrates a weakness that brings humanity to the intellectual detective. Furthermore, the stakes of the movie are heightened as Holmes bears the burden of redeeming himself. The master thief, Mack touches upon interesting ideas such as the importance of role models for the poor. Even if the film does not delve so deep into the social issues that serve as a backdrop to the events of the movie, the topics it brushes on are interesting enough.
As much adventure as it is mystery, “Sherlock Holmes and the Great Escape” is an exciting and creatively clever take on the famous detective. As enjoyable as the film is on its own, part of the fun of character-driven mysteries is seeing how our crime-solvers faire in other cases. With the rest of the book series to potentially adapt, hopefully this is just the beginning for this great dog-tective.
