Grade: B
At once grimey and decadent like only the 1920s could be, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set several decades before J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter installment. A charming re-entry into the wizarding world, Fantastic Beasts is directed by David Yates and stars Eddie Redmayne (Theory of Everything) as a procurer of fantastical creatures.
Fresh off the boat for a brief stop over, the Brit is barely in New York for a few hours before the magical creatures in his modest brown suitcase escape and wreak havoc throughout the city. When he mixes paths with pastry loving non-wizard Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and the Goldstein sisters Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie (Alison Sudol), strange antics ensue. While on the run from the Magical Congress of the United States of America, or MACUSA, they must recapture all creatures big and small in a plot reminiscent of some whimsical pre-modern Pokemon game.
But that’s not all the movie has under the hood as darker forces are at work. The threat of war looms large as a group called the New Salem Philanthropic Society seeks to expose the magical world and destroy any witch and wizard. Amongst their ranks is a child who holds the key to a radical terrorist wizard’s plan in leading a revolution.
The film swings wildly between two different tones. The second storyline in this film isn’t just some thin thread woven sparsely throughout the major plot. It is a dark mass plopped down right at the center of the film. At first, it seems as if the two plots would be better suited fitting into movies of their own. However, by the thrilling climax, they are balanced well enough without overburdening one another.
Besides some sketchy CGI, my one nitpick with the film is that even though he is at all times present on the screen, Redmayne’s Newt Scamander is frustratingly distant. From the beginning of the film until the very end he positions himself as an outsider. His head cocked to the side, he rarely ever makes eye contact with the person he is addressing. The camera is always carefully angled to emphasis this. He labels himself as a bit of an awkward loner, more keen to connect and spend time with animals. The professional precaution of not challenging them by keeping his eyes ducked carries over into his interactions with other people.
The film waits some time to reveal personal bits of information about the skittish protagonist and even when viewers get the full reveal of his back story it is not enough and comes a bit too late.
Okay, so my real last nitpick is a subjectively disappointing reveal towards the end of the third act that seemingly ruins one of the best characters in the film but, I digress. In all, Fantastic Beasts is a serviceable addition to the wizarding world. While a few names and plot hints are dropped–nothing to cause too much confusion–even the imaginations of non-fans of the property will be captured. The music transports you. The freedom and wonder of seeing learnt wizards use magic freely is much different than the wonder of seeing young wizards clumsily learn the craft.
Everyone one does a solid job in their roles but two of the breakouts in the film are Ezra Miller and Colin Farrell. Their troubled dynamics had me looking forward to further exploration of their characters. Even though their fates are left in the wind to be speculated about, the film wraps up nicely with hints of a wider plot. There are five more movies planned in this new wizarding franchise, here’s to hoping they maintain the magic and allure.
Zhana Johnson
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