Spoiler alert: The ending of "Sherlock Holmes" sets up a sequel. Warner Bros. clearly expects Detective Downey Jr. to be another bankable franchise. Well, those studio execs better hope for some big bucks at the box office this weekend because "Sherlock Holmes" falls flat in too many ways to have much staying power.

The film jumps right into the action as Holmes (played by Robert Downey Jr.) and his loyal assistant Dr. Watson (played by Jude Law) seek out serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong). The good news: The duo foils Blackwood just before he commits another murder. The bad news: After Blackwood is hanged for his crimes, he mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree.

So once again, the game is afoot. All the while, Holmes has to contend with his partner's new fiancee, Mary (played by Kelly Reilly), the dim-witted heads of Scotland Yard, and a well-known temptress by the name of Irene Adler (played by Rachel McAdams).

Doesn't sound too far off, right?

Did I mention that Holmes gets sweaty and shirtless in fight clubs and breaks ribs of men twice his size? Or that he drinks and drinks and drinks some more?

Fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes should go to the video store, rent "Young Sherlock Holmes" and save some money. This Guy Ritchie-directed revival barely resembles the classic murder mysteries that particular demographic has grown to love.

The problem is that there is little intriguing mystery in "Sherlock Holmes." The audience knows who the villain is - Lord Blackwood. The audience knows what his evil plan is - taking control of the world starting with London. They even know who he has murdered. The only mystery is how he did it all. There's no "whodunnit?" and most successful mysteries follow that formula. Instead, Holmes unveils his mediocre magic tricks while director Ritchie blows stuff up.

So, you'd think the contemporary movie audience would like "Sherlock Holmes," right?

Wrong again. The film's attempts at humor are dry and weak. And in a time when moviegoers have been wowed by Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter and Heath Ledger's Joker, Strong plays Blackwell like a one-dimensional lackluster Bond villain. Seriously, you're a serial killing dark sorcerer! Turn up the evil, Mark!

Downey and Law are fine in their roles, but they could be practically interchangeable. Despite their attempts in the opening half-hour, the writers don't give the two characters personalities that are different enough. And the writers don't really give McAdams or Reilly many lines at all. Truly, the shortcomings of this film don't fall on the cast.

Ritchie directed "Sherlock Holmes" in the same vein as "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels." Sorry, Guy, it's not such a good fit.