Great Film overall

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

How many films have these three names as stars, as Sherlock and Dr Watson, though Peter has a minor role, but also with the likes of Nigel Davenport and Jeffrey Jones too, the quality cast always keeps things interesting, even if the comedy comes and goes a bit, at times.My movie came by way of a job lot of Michael Caine films given 'free' with the Daily Mail, so in essence, it cost just 20p. Some of this lot are of frankly awful quality, sub-video actually but this one sparkles with crisp, bright visuals and good stereo sound.Despite Michael Caine playing Michael Caine (again) his comedic, often drunk portrayal of the sleuth is always engaging, if hammy and a little obvious. Of course, as others have also pointed out, director Thom Eberhardt's novel twist is the role reversal and that it's all Watson's genius and sleuthing and Holmes is just an actor acting him out - therefore, Sherlock is the buffoon, often (& comically) corrected by Kingsley's Watson - you'll see exactly how this works yourself, by watching it!Whilst it helps to be a fan of the Baker Street duo (I'm not an avid one, but can and do enjoy an occasional dip into) there is a breezy and broad appeal here whilst still retaining a good period feel, though Blenheim Palace near Oxford doubles as old London a fair bit. The whole family could sit down and enjoy this one, unlike the stuffier, more authentic Holmes', the jaunty and rather fun score by Henry Mancini helping. The steam train journey up to Lake Windermere is also a pleasant diversion, breaking up a rather ridiculous story about forged five pound notes.So, not a movie for those requiring - or expecting reasoned logic and by-the-book acting, but for a light, rainy Sunday afternoon flick that you can dip in and out of, then good fun and well worth the time, especially, if like me, you fancy a bit of good ole Michael Caine.

The celebrated legendary fictional sleuth Sherlock Holmes becomes the source of much humour in this wacky comedy written by Gary Murphy & Larry Strawther and directed by Thom Eberhardt ("Night of the Comet"). The premise here is that Sherlock Holmes was an invention of the sly Dr. John Watson (Ben Kingsley), who loved to dabble in crime solving as well as work as a physician, and was forced to create Holmes as a cover so that his reputation in medicine would not be tarnished. He subsequently hired boozy, clueless actor Reginald Kincaid (Michael Caine) to play the role. The trouble for Watson is that nobody will take him seriously and they always want to talk to "Holmes", so Watson has to put up with his bumbling partners' ways as they set out to solve the case of missing plates (for printing money) and a missing employee from their mint. This works merely okay as a mystery, as it mainly mines all of its situations and characters for all of the laughs possible. It never really catches fire - so to speak - but is often engaging enough, and funny enough, to make for pleasant if not uproarious fare. The recreation of Victorian England is effective, and there are some atmospheric moments along the way. The real joy is in seeing Kingsley and Caine showing off their comedy chops; Kingsley basically plays the straight man and does a lot of reacting to Caines' appealing buffoonery. A fine supporting cast is just as enjoyable to watch: Paul Freeman (Belloq from "Raiders of the Lost Ark") as the nefarious Prof. Moriarty, Lysette Anthony as the fetching Leslie Giles, Jeffrey Jones as the intrepid Inspector Lestrade, who's portrayed as not being terribly competent himself, Nigel Davenport as the worried Lord Smithwick, Pat Keen as the angry Mrs. Hudson, and Peter Cook as grumpy Norman Greenhough. The movie does go on for quite a bit, losing a bit of its momentum at times, but the lively performances help to keep it always watchable. Caine is marvelous, whether he's goosing a woman or trying to break down the name Moriarty. (Arty Morty?) Overall, a good if not great comedy. Seven out of 10.

Michael Caine is "Without a Clue" as Sherlock Holmes in this 1988 film also starring Ben Kingsley, Jeffrey Jones, Lysette Anthony, Peter Cook, and Nigel Davenport.In this story, the real brains of the operation is Dr. Watson (Kingsley) - he solves a case, but because he was up for an important position at the time, he made up the name of a detective and told the police that he had solved it. The name he made up was, of course, Sherlock Holmes.When Holmes becomes in demand, Watson goes out and finds a drunken, womanizing actor (Caine) with gambling debts and has him front for him as Holmes.Watson gets fed up with Holmes, as does Mrs. Hudson, who loathes him, and at one point, they throw him out of 221B Baker Street. Watson tries to take an important case of counterfeit 5 pound notes himself, but the people involved only want Holmes. Watson has to go to a bar and talk him into returning.Very good concept that becomes a little bit slapsticky (though funny) in the middle of the film -- its strong points are at the beginning and at the end of the movie."Without a Clue" is a little bit silly, and with actors like these involved, it should have been a much stronger script. The performances are all excellent. I just wish it had been a little better.

That sound you hear is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle spinning in his grave, from mirth more than outrage at the sorry state of his legendary Baker Street detective, depicted here as a bumbling third-rate actor living a role created by the real deductive genius and crime fighter: Dr. John Watson.It's a convenient (if sometimes slightly antagonistic) arrangement, with Watson finding the clues and Holmes getting the credit, and both Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley play the one-joke premise for all its worth, having a lot of fun with their respective characters. Caine is the idiotic, clumsy, lecherous and vain Sherlock Holmes, but Kingsley's Watson is no less temperamental: he has to solve the mysteries and match wits with the fiendish Moriarty while keeping his petulant alter ego under control.The plotting is conventional and Henry Mancini's cartoon music score makes the film sound at times like a mediocre sit-com, but it's a pleasure watching two award-winning talents trample a literary icon with such impeccable comic timing and malicious glee.