The newcomers shine, but the seasoned veterans are wasted.
The two young leads almost make Artemis Fowl enjoyable. “Boy genius” can be a difficult tone to nail without coming off as pretentious, and Shaw finds intelligence, instincts and humor in young Artemis. He’s matched by Lara McDonald, who plays Holly Short, an 80-year-old elf who’s part of the Lower Elements Police. She essentially talks her way onto the Fowl case… or, maybe, she’s assigned to investigate a troll who interrupts an Italian wedding. That’s never really clear. Anyway, Holly eventually ends up captured by Artemis and caged Fowl Manor, and… nevermind, really. It doesn’t go anywhere.
