Holmes & Watson (2018)

Directed by Etan Cohen. Starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Rebecca Hall, Rob Brydon, Ralph Fiennes, Kelly MacDonald, Lauren Lapkus, Steve Coogan, Pam Ferris, Hugh Laurie, Michael Culkin. [PG-13]

Broad, anachronistic comedy version of the relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s indefatigable characters Sherlock Holmes (Ferrell) and Doctor Watson (Reilly); here they try to solve a rather pedestrian murder mystery and assassination plot against the queen. A scattering of laughs in the hit-or-miss early-going, but they dry up quick; far too many dated gags, lame contemporary references (selfies, MAGA hats, “Unchained Melody,” etc.), and uninspired slapstick routines sour the experience. Cohen’s script is especially lazy, using puerility as a crutch and even botching a Billy Zane cameo. The stars have been typically funny together in the past, but they don’t even try to play actual characters here (no matter how thinly-defined), and settle on being vaguely dumb, pompous and socially awkward; the supporting cast is littered with talent but they’re largely wasted (Lapkus hardly even gets to speak until the denouement). Not quite as awful as initially reported, but still not worth anyone’s time.

32/100