The real brains behind Sherlock Holmes belonged to Dr Watson, according to this hit-and-miss Baker Street farce; in fact, the shy doctor invented the fictitious sleuth as a front for his own brilliant crime detection skills. As Holmes captured the public's imagination, Watson was forced to hire actor Reginald Kincaid to impersonate him. How they fare while investigating a plot to undermine the British Empire with forged five pound notes is the comedy basis for this mismatched buddy movie that's good fun despite the patchy laughs and hammy performances. Ben Kingsley's Watson wipes the floor with Michael Caine's Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes is as dashing as ever, but with a little secret: Dr. Watson is the brains behind the operation. When Reginald Kincaid, the actor he has hired to play Holmes becomes insufferable, Watson fires him and tries to go out on his own, but finds that he has done too good a job building Holmes up in the public's mind.