The Wizarding World was always too big for just the story of Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling included enough backstories and world-building in the original series and the Pottermore website to support plenty more adventures in her massively successful setting. So, we come to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first spinoff movie in the upcoming four-to-five film series. With a screenplay actually written by Rowling herself (as opposed to Cursed Child), Fantastic Beasts attempts to recapture what made the Wizarding World so endearing in the first place.
Set in 1926 New York City, the movie follows magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) who has traveled to the United States with a briefcase full of magical creatures. Naturally, mayhem ensues, they all escape, and Scamander attempts to track down his charges with the help of former auror Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), the Muggle (or No-maj as they say in America) Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), and Tina’s sister the mind-reading Queenie (Alison Sudol). Along the way, Scamander and company have to dodge the attentions of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) who might find it prudent to put the creatures down in fear of exposing the Wizarding World to the No-maj population, especially the suspicious, wizard hating New Salemers, who continue the proud Potter villain tradition of giving themselves blatantly evil names. Meanwhile, auror Percival Graves (Colin Farrel) investigates the family at the heart of the New Salemers, particularly the young teenager Clarence (Ezra Miller).
Whenever the movie succeeds, it usually does so because of Eddie Redmayne’s nuanced performance. Redmayne’s made a name for himself with quirky, awkward characters who seem to be out of place with their environment, a perfect formula for a Harry Potter character, particularly Scamander himself. It’s a treat to watch him stumble through the unfamiliarity of New York and awkwardly attempt to interact with those around him. However, as he says himself, he’s far more comfortable with his creatures. Whenever Scamander is in the company of the gorgeously animated titular Fantastic Beasts, Redmayne gets to truly come alive as Newt guides Jacob through his briefcase full of creatures in the movie’s standout scene.
Unfortunately, the rest of the characters don’t fare as well. While I have to admire the decision to make Jacob a rough-around-the-edges everyman instead of providing idiotic comedic relief, Fogler only gets a few chances to actually do anything interesting with the character, usually relegated to looking astonished in the face of magic. This is a particularly notable mistake when he makes the same expression for both a 50-foot winged serpent and some dinner plates floating around. I could barely even remember Tina’s name because she’s mostly relegated to the unfortunate role of trying to keep Scamander from doing his thing. Queenie is enjoyable and hilariously sugary-sweet, but she arrives too late into the main story to make a definite impact.
When Scamander and friends are running around chasing the Beasts, the movie is a lighthearted and fun romp through the city. This contrasts heavily with Grave’s investigation into the New Salemers, which manages to be perhaps the Wizarding World’s darkest storyline yet, heavy with brutal killings, domestic abuse, prejudice, and all around grimness. While the Harry Potter movies always managed to successfully blend the light and the dark, Fantastic Beasts fails in that regard, giving a sense of tonal whiplash for the entire movie. These two storylines are kept almost entirely separate before being brought together for a confusing, haphazard, and visually uncreative conclusion. While it may be a great showcase for Farrel and Miller’s talents, I can’t help but theorize that this storyline, along with a few extra plot threads, was bolted on at the last second when Rowling realized that a movie about beast-wrangling couldn’t have a villain and that there was a chance to tie Fantastic Beasts into upcoming movies.
Finally, it feels like Fantastic Beasts missed a huge opportunity when it comes to the setting. One of the main reasons people were so drawn into the Harry Potter series was how fleshed out and alive Hogwarts was, to the point that it might as well have been a character in its own right. In contrast, Fantastic Beasts barely uses the opportunities present in 1926 New York. Outside of a quick trip to Goblin Ron Perlman’s speakeasy, one scene in Central Park, and visits to the MACUSA’s headquarters located in the Woolworth Building, the movie feels like it could have been set in any other generic city.
Fantastic Beasts is a study of highs and lows. When the camera is centered on Eddie Redmayne or any of the Beasts, it feels truly unique. However, none of the other characters ever get the chance to do anything on a similar level and are instead forced to either play second fiddle to Scamander, relegated to the dismal New Salemer plot, or dutifully setting up sequels. The movie would have had better luck sticking to its main attractions.
