WB has unveiled our first look at “Sherlock Holmes,” their big summer tentpole and, wow, it looks fairly watchable. Robert Downey Jr. stars as the noted detective, here given an action-y facelift by director Guy Ritchie, producer Joel Silver and writer Lionel Wigram. Wigram has nothing to do with the screenplay, but supposedly it’s his source material, a new line of action-heavy Holmes comic books, that drives the inspiration of the film. Still, reading the older books, Holmes was no slouch in that department, so those having their feathers rumpled by the action choreography, swordfights and explosions should know the footage is in some ways staying true to the source material. Which shouldn’t be a problem- the Holmes we remember from the books had his share of exciting adventures. Head to a library, you philistine.
The clip gives us our first look at cheeky Downey in action, as it seems he’ll spend quite a bit of the time half or even fully naked. The boys, however, get Rachel McAdams in most likely Frederick’s of Hollywood period lingerie. We also catch Jude Law as Watson, who appears here mostly as a saintly roommate of sorts but not without his complaints, and Mark Strong glowering as the evil Lord Blackwood, who apparently might rise from the grave at one point. And hey, “Happy-Go-Lucky” fans have to be salivating at the thought of a smirky Downey going toe-to-toe with Eddie Marsan playing what seems to be another character infuritated by his co-star’s flighty sense of pleasure.
“Sherlock Holmes” opens December 25th.
