Elementary, our dear readers

The redemption of Robert Downey Jr. has yielded overwhelmingly positive results thus far. His performance in "Iron Man" makes it hard to imagine anyone else as Tony Stark, and he earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "Tropic Thunder."

He can now add Sherlock Holmes to his resume; the title character in Guy Ritchie’s latest film came to life in his capable hands. Jude Law simultaneously turned in an impressive performance as his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson.

Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t quite live up to the potential that its star power lends it. Downey and Law are flawless, but with the exception of an unusually inspired performance by Rachel McAdams, the rest of the supporting cast seems to phone it in.

Still, the movie is fast-paced, action-packed and surprisingly hilarious at times. The idiosyncrasies of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character –  the meticulously planned combat, the unquenchable curiosity, the uncanny ability to piece together clues – translate wonderfully to the screen, especially since Downey Jr. portrays the character so well.

The big reveal at the film’s climax is even uniquely Doyleian, even if modern viewers will see it as a Scooby Doo moment: Holmes explicitly explains to the bad guy how he figured out his evil schemes.

"Sherlock Holmes" is an entertaining movie, but this reviewer can’t help but think it will go the way of such flicks as "The Brothers Grimm," "Van Helsing," and "The Da Vinci Code": action/sleuth movies with average scripts and above-average leading performances that are fun in the theater but ultimately impossible to rewatch.

Give Downey and Law credit, but don’t overvalue the movie as a result.