The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother (1975)

The Adventure of Sherlock Homles’ Smarter Brother (1975)

Directed by: Gene Wilder

Starring: Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn

Yeah, it’s the same main cast as Young Frankenstein, in another madcap slapstick comedy… but something just doesn’t work with this one, for some reason.

Gene Wilder plays Sherlock Holmes’ brother who has most of the famous detective’s skills, only a different personality and a sidekick (Feldman) who has an eidetic memory… when it comes to things he hears. Wilder falls in love with Kahn, a local nightclub singer, and has to save her from being caught up in a plot involving a letter used for blackmail. And there’s something about a kangaroo hop in there.

This movie just falls flat on so many levels that Young Frankenstein did exactly right, and it’s hard to say why. The premise seems sound enough, it just never quite clicks. The strangest thing is, I’m sure I’ve seen this before, and I remembered it being quite funny. I dunno, my memory’s shot, what can I say…