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When theaters first closed and everyone started binge-watching Netflix, most studios put their major releases on hold. As the pandemic continued to keep people at home, some decided to take their releases online. And those who were eagerly anticipating the theatrical release of Kenneth Branagh’s Artemis Fowl can now catch it on Disney+ instead.
Artemis Fowl joins in a magical adventure with 12-year-old genius Artemis (Ferdia Shaw). After his father, Artemis Fowl, Sr. (Colin Farrell), disappears and is suddenly under suspicion for art theft, their loyal butler, Domovoi Butler (Nonso Anozie), reveals that Artemis, Sr. isn’t just an antiquities dealer. And when a mysterious kidnapper demands that Artemis deliver a powerful fairy device in exchange for his father’s return, Artemis finds himself working with tough young fairy Holly (Lara McDonnell) and thieving giant dwarf Mulch (Josh Gad) to bring his dad home.
As this clever young prodigy prepares to battle anyone and everyone who stands in his way, he comes face to face with magical creatures that he’d always thought were nothing but characters in his father’s made-up stories. And it’s no surprise that the director who gave audiences their first glimpse of Asgard in Thor would make both the fairy world and the majestic Fowl Manor look pretty fantastic on screen. Really, this whole adventure has Branagh’s name stamped all over it—from its grand effects and playful characters to the almost Shakespearian feel of its drama. And though Artemis may look like a junior recruit for the Men in Black, it’s all quite Harry Potter-esque—and young viewers will enjoy the action and the magic of it all.
Still, in condensing the story down to a kid-friendly 90-minute runtime, it’s clear that the filmmakers left out key points. The development is extremely light, leaving viewers with a nagging feeling that something’s missing—some important information about the characters and their story. Some of characters who seem like they might be important to the story are barely mentioned, and even Artemis, who’s supposed to be some kind of criminal mastermind, feels like any other young hero. So while the film still has plenty of action and summer movie effects, it feels too simplified and too compressed.
If your kids are missing the action and adventure of the typical big-budget summer movies, they’ll find plenty of action, fantasy, and drama in Artemis Fowl. But fans of the books might be disappointed by the edits—and newcomers might feel like they weren’t given the whole story.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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