Holmes & Watson (2018) is a unique blend of mystery and comedy, directed by Ethan Cohen. The film follows the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal companion, Dr. John Watson, as they tackle a perplexing case involving a death threat to the Queen.
If you’re looking to stream Holmes & Watson (2018), Starz is the platform to turn to. This American streaming service offers the film for viewers who enjoy a mix of humor and intrigue.
Yes, you can watch Holmes & Watson (2018) on Starz. The movie kicks off with Sherlock Holmes arriving at Buckingham Palace for a surprise birthday party. Inside a cake, they discover a corpse and a message from Moriarty, warning of Queen Victoria’s impending death in four days.
As Holmes and Watson delve into the investigation, they encounter Dr. Grace Hart and Millie. Watson is smitten with Grace, while Holmes finds Millie fascinating. Watson’s autopsy reveals no clear cause of death, but Holmes suspects poisoning by Gustav Klinger. They track Klinger, who is in cahoots with Moriarty, but he is killed before revealing any secrets.
The film features a stellar cast, including Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Rebecca Hall, Rob Brydon, Kelly Macdonald, Steve Coogan, and Ralph Fiennes.
To watch Holmes & Watson (2018) on Starz, follow these steps:
Visit Starz.com and sign up for either the six-month plan or the monthly plan. The six-month plan costs $46, while the monthly plan is $9.99 per month. Starz is also available as a Prime Video Channel, offering discounted access to Amazon Prime Video subscribers. Discounts vary throughout the year.
The synopsis of Holmes & Watson (2018) is as follows: “Detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson join forces to investigate a murder at Buckingham Palace. They soon learn they have only four days to solve the case, or the queen will become the next victim.”
Holmes & Watson opens with a prologue that provides a backstory for Holmes, highlighting his struggle to find friendship. Watson is the exception, but the film portrays their relationship as one where Watson is in awe of Holmes and never speaks up for himself.
The film focuses on the friendship between Holmes and Watson, albeit a dysfunctional one. While there is a case to solve, the movie is more about the comedic elements than the mystery itself. The plot involves a corpse in a giant cake and a threat against Queen Victoria, but the real focus is on the friendship.
There are several Holmes-specific jokes, including gags about Holmes not having fully developed his signature look. The film also parodies the visual representation of Holmes’ previsioning of action, similar to the Robert Downey Jr. films.
Most of the humor revolves around Holmes being socially and sexually inept and Watson’s desperation to impress. While Ferrell and Reilly have delivered funny performances in other movies, the humor in Holmes & Watson falls flat. The accents and delivery don’t help either.
The jokes that come closest to working involve Victorian science and medicine. Reilly and Rebecca Hall’s enthusiastic delivery makes these scenes punchy and unexpected. However, most of the laughs come from the newspaper articles briefly shown on screen, which are sharper than the script.
The supporting cast, including many familiar faces, also struggles with the material. It’s surprising to see so many talented actors in this film. Fiennes as Moriarty and Hugh Laurie as Mycroft could have been interesting, but they aren’t given much to work with. Rob Brydon as Lestrade fares slightly better, but overall, the cast is underutilized.
Holmes & Watson is a bit of a mess and a waste of talented individuals. It’s not even the funniest film about Holmes and Watson released in 2018. But if you’re curious, you can stream it on Starz and see for yourself.
