In the realm of film, the 1988 movie "Without a Clue" would not be on anyone's best film list, and did not create a sensation when it came out or after. But it's reliable and silly and funny, and especially now, when the world is gaga over "Sherlock" with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Feldman, myself included, sanity needs nudging a bit. Let's not take the whole phenomenon too seriously. My husband adores "Without a Clue", and when I want to get on his good side I magnanimously offer to watch it with him, as I did last night. Roger Ebert didn't like it much, but maybe he needed to laugh more.
First of all, two absolute masters of the acting world let loose, and each is hilarious and obviously having a lot of fun. Michael Caine, playing Reginald Kincaid impersonating Sherlock Holmes, is an example of a great comedian. I burst out laughing a lot watching him be a idiot. Ben Kingley, as Watson and the REAL mastermind of the detective work, is terrific as the humorless doctor, frustrated at every turn by his own creation. Their teamwork is sublime. The plot is interesting and plausible for fans of Sherlock, Jeffrey Jones is great as Inspector Lestrade, and the whole cast delightful. There is also a modern kick to the idea of fame bearing no resemblance to talent. Reginald is made to be before the newshounds and Watson, sadly, is not. It's a Kennedy/Nixon kind of media issue.
The scenery and sets are terrific, and the whole movie goes by like a summer breeze. No dark psychological hints here. It's fun, pure and simple.
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