Sherlock Gnomes - a Canonical Review; Belanger Books Sherlock Holmes Children's Books

Sherlock Gnomes: A Review

The 21st Century revival of Sherlock Holmes may be reaching its limit. We've had two modern takes on the Great detective (Sherlock and Elementary), an action film version (the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock Holmes films), and a traditional take on the detective in Russian (the 2013 series starring Igor Petrenko).  We now have the Gnome version in the children's film Sherlock Gnomes, a fun if forgettable film with some surprising canonical references. Please note that this is a film review and some of the information may be considered spoilers.

The plot of the film begins with Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) moving to a new "fixer upper" home with their garden gnome family.  While the gnome duo is away at a flower shop, all of their gnome family is kidnapped.  Never fear for Sherlock Gnomes (Johnny Depp) and Dr. Gnome Watson (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are on the case!  Sherlock Gnomes, Watson, Gnomeo, and Juliet team up to follow clues left behind by Moriarty (Jamie Demetriou) to save the gnomes before it's too late.

Canonical Cast Review

Johnny Depp and Chiwetel Ejiofor make a surprisingly good Holmes and Watson.  They have a very good chemistry and we see firsthand just how dismissive Holmes is of Watson.  In fact, their one-sided friendship leads to a good twist in the plot.  Jamie Demetriou's Moriarty is not the Moriarty from the stories. Unfortunately, they chose to make this Moriarty like the one from the show Sherlock, and I think this one of the biggest mistakes in the film. The character comes across not as sinister but as weird, and my kids thought he was the worst part of the film.  Rounding out the characters from the canon are Teddy Gregson (Dan Starkey) a grumpy teddy bear version of Inspector Gregson who has nothing in common with his canonical character except his name, and Irene Adler (Mary J. Blige). This Irene Adler I found almost as bad as the Moriarty. She is a sultry singer who was a jilted lover of Sherlock Gnomes. I don't know why they had to make Irene Adler an ex-girlfriend. From the behavior of Sherlock Gnomes, like his canonical counterpart, it is difficult to see how he would have ever had any romantic inklings. Sadly it seems that the character of Irene Adler's only purpose in the film is to be used for a brief musical interlude to give kids a chance for a bathroom break.

Canonical References

For fans of the original 60 Sherlock Holmes stories there were some fun references in the film.  We get a dangerous Hound of the Baskervilles who has previously bitten the leg of Sherlock Gnomes. There is a splendid Reichenbach Falls moment with the added thrill of a fireworks show.  We even get references to the riverboat chase in The Sign of the Four and an allusion (quite possibly unintentional) to the unwritten tale, The Giant Rat of Sumatra.  Probably the best onscreen visual interpretation from the canon is the Sherlock Gnomes brain attic sequences where we get a view into the inner mind of Sherlock and see how he processes evidence from a clue to solve a case.  

Last Thoughts

Sherlock Gnomes is a fun children's film which could make for a good introduction to the Holmes and Watson characters. It is entertaining enough to hold the interest of adults, and the mystery itself, while predictable, does have one twist which I did not fully see coming. I recommend the film for what it is - a cute and entertaining mystery.

Belanger Books Sherlock Holmes Children's Books

For those of you with children interested in Sherlock Gnomes, please consider these Sherlock Holmes children's books from Belanger Books. They make an excellent introduction to the Sherlock Holmes character.

Scones and Bones on Baker Street

Digby, a London street dog, hopes he can find a crumb of food and maybe a warm place to sleep around the next corner. Instead, he finds himself face-to-face with the Great Detective himself, Sherlock Holmes! Digby is thrilled. He decides to prove his worth to Holmes by helping him solve his latest case. However, Digby discovers that detectives have to follow certain rules. No scratching in public. No howling in concert halls. No ruining Mr. Holmes’ shoes. Who knew that solving crimes could be so hard? Can Digby help Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the Adventure of the Red-Headed League, and finally find a home --- at 221B Baker Street?

“What a delightful, delectable cream bun of a book, perfect for budding Sherlock Holmes fans and young dog lovers alike. But readers beware: a dog that can steal the heart of Sherlock Holmes can very well steal yours.” - Claudia Mills, author of Cody Harmon, King of Pets

Look for the sequel to Scones and Bones on Baker Street coming this fall from Belanger Books!

The MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes Series

This series involves ten year old twin detectives Emma and Jimmy MacDougall who assist Sherlock Holmes on cases. A fun introduction to the Sherlock Holmes character for kids! There are currently three books in the series:

The Amazing Airship Adventure: The MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes: Book 1

From the bestselling team of Derrick Belanger and Brian Belanger comes a fun filled mystery adventure for kids of all ages. London, 1897: Ten year old twin detectives, Emma and Jimmy MacDougall, are having dinner with their good friend Sherlock Holmes when terror strikes. A mysterious airship the size of two elephants threatens to blow up 221B Baker Street and even all of England. Who is this mad bomber? Why is he attacking London? Sherlock Holmes can’t solve this case alone. It is up to the MacDougall twins to use their wits and skills to find the hidden airship and save the world.

Attack of the Violet Vampire (The MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes Book 2)

Terror strikes! The Violet Vampire, a winged monster with sharp claws and glowing eyes, has been attacking all of London! Is it an advanced flying machine? An alien from another world? Could it possibly be a real vampire? And how are the notorious outlaws known as The Peterson gang involved with all of this? It's up to The MacDougall Twins and their good friend Sherlock Holmes to solve the case, with help from Inspector Lestrade, Scotland Yard, and a surprising special agent!

Curse of the Deadly Dinosaur (The MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes Book 3)

Terror Strikes! During the Christmas season, a young man named Jonas Bogswell brings a most baffling case to Sherlock Holmes and the MacDougall Twins. A dinosaur, a creature that should have been extinct millions of years ago, with razor sharp jaws and a terrifying scream, has been spotted roaming the hills of Surrey. The creature has been preying on sheep in the countryside, or has it? The local police believe Jonas Bogswell is responsible for the death of the sheep, and he needs the help of Sherlock Holmes, the MacDougall Twins, and Toby, their faithful canine friend to prove his innocence. But how can a prehistoric creature be alive in Victorian England? Could the monster have something to do with the local legend of Bald Hill where the Devil was supposedly imprisoned a hundred years before? And is Jonas Bogswell completely innocent, or does he and his family have more knowledge of the dinosaur than they've revealed? Find out as the MacDougall Twins with Sherlock Holmes solve their most extraordinary case and learn the truth behind the curse of the deadly dinosaur!

To see a full collection of children's books from Belanger Books (both Sherlockian and non-Sherlockian) click here.

Belanger Books is a small press owned by artist Brian Belanger and author Derrick Belanger specializing in new Sherlock Holmes books, Children's books, Steampunk, and genre specific anthologies.  Some of our books have been #1 bestsellers in their categories on Amazon.