Critic’s Pick: ‘Mr. Holmes’ a pleasing puzzler

While it’s never certain what the adult audience will embrace, having the great detective Sherlock Holmes on your team certainly gives you a leg up on the competition, which is one reason why the elegant Bill Condon-directed puzzler “Mr. Holmes” is approaching $7 million at the U.S. box office in less than two weeks.

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Aided greatly by Ian McKellen’s impeccable performance, “Mr. Holmes” presents the sage of Baker Street as a 93-year-old retiree grappling with diminishing memory and other indignities of age and dealing with the one thing he’s never had to contend with before: his own emotions. This seemingly slight tale builds almost without our awareness into a story with surprising power.

Twitter: @KennethTuran