I will go ahead and tell you that I love these Sherlock Holmes movies. I love Robert Downey Jr. (smart, witty, yummy, and says gems like this: "Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the f*@! you were gonna do anyway.").
I love Guy Ritchie's super-cool camera angles, slow motion, and the playing-out-the-scene-in-Downey's-head stuff.
I even love Jude Law--but only because he is the absolute perfect Watson to Downey's Holmes.
Now, on to the story. Husband-and-wife writing team Kieran Mulroney and Michele Mulroney created the script for this second film in the series. The great thing about the Holmes stories is that their is built in suspense and a race to the end because you want to know how it ends. If you're like my husband, you are constantly trying to figure out the plot twists and who is to blame. For me, I just enjoy the ride, which flies by because there is always action. The nonstop action, fight scenes, and sneaking around all work to drive the story forward (which translates in my writing education as "pace, pace, pace!).
But the real genius is the dialogue. The back and forth between Downey and Law, or sometimes with Downey and what he thinks Law is going to say ("I admit, it's not my best disguise"). The back and forth between Downey and the villain, Professor Moriarty. With himself. Even between Downey and anyone, really. It's quick, quirky, thoughtful, and just plain fun.
And even though it shamelessly sets up the third movie, I don't care. I want their to be more Sherlock Holmes movies as long they keep the trio of Downey, Law, and Ritchie intact.