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It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

As the tagline says, watch Without a Clue to "meet the world's greatest detective, and his bumbling partner." It's a film with the famed literary detective duo, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, but in this version, it's Dr. Watson who's the genius. Sherlock Holmes is an idiot! I absolutely love this movie, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Even if you've never seen a Sherlock Holmes movie or read a story, you'll still love it. The jokes are both clever and hilarious, which is a rare and welcomed combination. In the entire 107-minute running time, there might have been a collective ten minutes in which I wasn't laughing myself silly. Several times I had to press pause and guffaw, waiting to resume the film until I'd composed myself. Thank you Gary Murphy and Larry Strawther for writing such a side-splittingly funny movie.A perfectly hysterical script is a good start, but if bad actors with lousy timing deliver the lines, the movie will be terrible. Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley have a wonderful chemistry together, and they both add so much to their roles. While anyone else might play Sherlock Holmes as an ordinary doofus, Michael Caine puts himself in the moment so the blunders are really unintentional. He isn't playing dumb; he means well and happens to be stupid. I'm convinced anyone else cast as Dr. Watson would have played him with more of an angry, jealous, resentful edge. Ben Kingsley is enormously kind, so even when he's frustrated with Michael Caine, the audience can tell he's still a caring person and enjoys his rapport with his lesser half.When they're attacked by Paul Freeman's henchman, Michael Caine gets really upset and worried. Ben Kingsley reassures him that he isn't the real target because Paul is only trying to stop the smarter of the two. "He knows you're an idiot," he says, with only good intentions behind the remark. There's a beat before Michael Caine's response, and the audience thinks he'll certainly take offense, but instead he sighs, "Oh, thank God!" It's one of my favorite jokes in the film, since it shows the adorable combination of sweetness and comedy that runs through the script.If you've had a bad day, Without a Clue will cheer you up. If you've had a good day, Without a Clue will make it better. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy. Renting it once won't be enough.

The same year, Michael Caine gave life to the alcoholic & stubborn Inspector Abberline of Scotland Yard, assigned to investigate the Jack the Ripper murders in the high budget'd mini-series of the same name, he played the total opposite (well, except for the liquor part) in "Without a Clue", a lighthearted 'pastiche' on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, spoofing his most famous characters on reversing their roles, placing Dr. Watson as the real sleuth with great deduction powers and Sherlock Holmes as a has-been stage actor with an alcohol problem, hired by Watson as his figurehead. As the incompetent Holmes, not only disturbs and embarrass the genius detective work of Watson, but he's seen by the Press and general public as the mastermind of investigation and Watson just a mere inefficient sidekick, the self- called "Doctor of Crime" tries to rid out of him to assume his real talents , but the process won't be easy...The screenplay by Larry Strawther & Gary Murphy, two Sherlock Holmes' devoted fans, is smartly written to work both as a slapstick farce and as a harmless parody to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, who at a certain point, was tired of his own fictional creation and tried, unsuccessfully, killing him off.The dialogue is wonderfully witty and the staging of the comedy situations it's well-crafted and genuinely funny without forcing it to the viewer, due a vivid and inspired direction of Thom Eberhardt, self-aware of the comedy timing and inducing a perfect tone to the movie, and the absolutely brilliant cinematography by Alan Hume, which is visually top notch, recreating the Victorian Era. The editing is also very good with the movie, flowing at a relatively fast pace without filling-in with unnecessary scenes. The production design, art direction, set decoration and costume design, all together did a terrific job giving life to the Sherlock Holmes' world.In terms of performances, Sir Michael Caine and Sir Ben Kingsley are both excellent in their respective roles with Caine being a riot to follow. Kingsley got the less meaty part, but he subtly, captured the true essence of his straight character and gave the essential counterpoint, for Caine's flamboyant performance to work.The supporting players were all perfectly cast for their roles and well-directed in their performances, especially Jeffrey Jones as the dumbest Inspector of Scotland Yard, Lestrade (his facial expressions' are comedy gold) and Paul Freeman as Sherlock Holmes'... well... Dr. Watson's arch enemy, Prof. James Moriarty.In short, "Without a Clue" failed with movie critics and audiences, in both continents, when it was released in '88 which was a shame, because it's not only one of the best Sherlock Holmes' movies ever made, but also one of the very best spoofs out there and 30 years after it was made, is still criminally underrated for the general public, even if it was re- valuated along the years and started to be figured in some Top Lists made by Sherlock Holmes' aficionados.Erroneously, some critics pointed out that was way inferior to the previous, Sherlock Holmes' humour oriented 'pastiche', "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" ('70) directed by the acclaimed Billy Wilder, but it's like comparing apples to oranges, it's a totally different genre and tone with obviously, totally different results.Highly recommended !!

Carolyn's thoughts: This was pretty funny, and an interesting twist on the Sherlock Holmes franchise. Instead of Holmes being the brilliant detective, Watson is the detective and just uses Holmes as a cover. It was funny throughout, and it kept us sufficiently entertained.Clint's thoughts: I was definitely reminded of the recent Seth Rogan version of The Green Hornet: A "hero" who is pretty much useless, with a sidekick who does all the work, all the while during which the "hero" comically takes all the glory from the "sidekick", who is ignored and never given credit.That's basically the same formula here... But with MUCH better actors!It was a total win. It had all the comedic feel of some of the recent Sherlock Holmes films, yet it was nothing like them at all. Funny adventures indeed... These guys could have done a series. It would have basically been the British Moonlighting. Would have been awesome.

Without a Clue is directed by Thom Eberhardt and written by Larry Strawther and Gary Murphy. It stars Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, Lysette Anthony, Jeffrey Jones, Matthew Sim, Paul Freeman, Pat Keen, Matthew Savage and Nigel Davenport. Music is by Henry Mancini and cinematography by Alan Hume.Sherlock Holmes (Caine) is really a second rate actor hired for incognito purposes by the intelligent crime solver Dr. Watson (Kingsley). Tiring of him getting all the praise, Watson tries to dispense with the oafish Holmes' services. However, a major counterfeit case rears its head and Watson, with a bumbling Holmes in tow, must set aside differences to try and crack the case.The premise is role reversal and it makes for a lovely entertaining movie. Oh the plot itself is hardly ingenious, and the absence of Kingsley's Watson for a good chunk of the last third of the movie is sorely felt, yet the japery and chemistry of Caine and Kingsley see it safely home.Caine as Reginald Kincaid as Sherlock Holmes is a buffoon, a hard drinking pratfaller in waiting, someone who is not beyond peeking through a keyhole to ogle a shapely thigh. And Caine has a ball with the role! On the other side is Kingsley's Watson, continually irritated by his companion in crime solving, he's grumpy and stomps about like a spoilt kid. Kingsley also has a ball.Holmes aficionados will appreciate the characterisation of Inspector Lestrade (Jones), since he's played as clueless, while the Baker Street Irregulars (Savage sprightly), Professor Moriarty (Freeman not in it much and not playing it for laughs really) and Mrs. Hudson (Pat Keen wonderful and really given a character that impacts on the jollification on show) keep the Holmes/Watson world vibrant.Elsewhere Lysette Anthony raises the temperatures with her beauty and sexuality, whilst thankfully getting a character written as more than just an ingénue. Mancini strings together a jaunty and period themed musical score, while the Victorian production design is authentic and pleasing on the eyes. So all in all, one or two quibbles aside, it's good wholesome fun that is well performed and constructed by the makers. 7.5/10