FILM REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Directed by David Yates
Written by J. K. Rowling
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Jon Voight, Carmen Ejogo, Ron Perlman, Colin Farrell

After the Harry Potter film series ran its rather successful course, the final entry being Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 in 2011 — which, per Box Office Mojo, grossed over $1 billion and was the highest-earning installment in the entire series — Warner Bros. decided to tap series author J. K. Rowling for another film whose story would take place within the “Potterverse,” as fans describe it, or, in layman terms, the same universe inhabited by the titular Harry Potter. The film would be an adaptation of Rowling’s 2001 book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, described as being Potter’s copy of the textbook of the same name found within the original novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The film version was released after a four-year gap following its announcement. So, how does the film stack up to the Harry Potter series? Does it sit comfortably within the Potterverse, or does it act better as a standalone film? To answer this question, one must first look at the movie’s general plot.

Traveling from England to the United States in 1926, wizard and magical creature enthusiast Newt Scamander — played exceptionally well by Eddie Redmayne, whose breakout performance in Les Misérables led to instant stardom — accidentally releases his creatures into the streets of New York City. With the help of a No-Maj, or non-magical individual, and two witches, Scamander sets out to recover the creatures.

Harry Potter fans will love Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Those unacquainted with the Potterverse will certainly have no trouble adjusting. Harry Potter has not been born yet. Hogwarts is mentioned but never seen, and the name Albus Dumbledore is uttered. Those unfamiliar with the Harry Potter series are unlikely to raise an eyebrow at these references, while mythology fanatics will eat it up.

Rowling doesn’t just reiterate the story of Harry Potter, but she expands upon it. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them introduces entirely new concepts as far as the films are concerned, but this doesn’t hurt the story or the characters; rather, it gives them a purpose. The film’s narrative is structured in such a way that it never really becomes boring. There is always something to look at — if not get visually lost in — and the character of Newt Scamander is usually at the forefront of each situation.

Visual flair doesn’t always equal narrative splendor. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has its fair share of flaws in this department. While the film is visually engaging and helps to deliver a sense of wonder in the confined space of the frame, the narrative feels rather thin for something as “big” as the first entry in a Harry Potter spin-off series. While the film doesn’t — or at least, shouldn’t — have to be some jaw-dropping, game-changing piece of work, there is still something here undoubtedly “missing.” Magic and the potential of that magic can only go as far as the characters use it, and in this case, there is nothing that stands above the original series’ sense of initial unfamiliarity with the concept of magic, even if some of what is presented here is new and exciting.

It’s worth noting that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them doesn’t feel like the first entry to anything. Even though a majority of the characters feel like they have a place in the story, there are several — especially Graves, played by Colin Farrell — who seem to stick out in a more negative light, in a “sequel setup” sense. Apart from this, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them largely feels like a standalone spin-off.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them builds largely off the sheer mythology of the Potterverse; even those who have seen all eight Harry Potter films will be pleasantly surprised here and there by the magical world surrounding the characters. Keep an eye on Newt Scamander’s suitcase. It’s not what it appears to be. The film also builds off Eddie Redmayne’s stellar performance. Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol do exceptionally well as a pair of witch siblings. The performance of Dan Fogler, who plays a No-Maj, feels forced at times, but it’s nothing too distracting.

Some of the characters are unable to propel the narrative forward. Eddie Redmayne is always the driving force in the film, and this is evident in one scene in which the No-Maj character played by Fogler becomes the subject while “discovering” magic. He overstays his welcome from this moment, and his comedic relief antics become a bit tiring. Thankfully, the supporting characters never become too much of a focus.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will certainly please die-hards of the Harry Potter franchise. Those unfamiliar with the workings of the Potterverse shouldn’t fret, as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them works as an introductory film. Director David Yates, who directed four of the eight films in the Harry Potter series, proves here, once again, that he is one of the finest filmmakers working today. Yates has taken on half of a gigantic film franchise loved by millions around the world. His singular vision and choice cinematography complement his ability to steer entire franchises in spectacular fashion, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them puts his talent on sheer display. The sequels are another story.

★★★½

Note: This review was originally published in the Milligan Stampede. Some minor alterations have been made for contextual purposes.