Playlist: Sherlock Holmes

It's elementary* that the combo of director Guy Ritchie and star Robert Downey, Jr. would adapt Sherlock Holmes into a highly watchable, bare-knuckled romp through Victorian London. There's nothing new or innovative here, but sometimes fun is enough. Add Jude Law as loyal partner Watson and the always enchanting Rachel McAdams and you have two hours you won't demand back.

There's been some criticism that they took too many liberties with the classic Holmes character, but my understanding is that most past adaptations have been worse offenders. The great detective has become something of a cliche over the years and we have unfortunately been living with a watered down image of this very complex, very flawed (in the most interesting way) literary creation.

One of the better versions of the Holmes-Watson dynamic in recent years has been playing out on "House, M.D." So much so that I kept thinking Downey and Law were reminding me of Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard's House and Wilson.

*legally required pun