by Jennifer Zhan, senior editor
J.K. Rowling has done it again.
“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” Rowling’s screenwriting debut, is the first of a series of five movies to come. The film revolves around endearingly awkward wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). Although Scamander does hail from Hogwarts, make no mistake — this movie is not a revamped version of the Harry Potter films.
This tale is set in 1920s New York. There’s an entirely new set of characters and creatures. Newt, a magizoologist, accidentally loses a few of his magical beasts and is subsequently blamed by the Magical Congress of the United States (MACUSA) for destruction occurring throughout the city. While Newt attempts to rescue his creatures, he makes a few friends that assist him while the magical community sinks into a crisis that no one can explain.
The movie weaves together several different subplots, somehow managing to tie together characters from MACUSA, an orphanage, and the United States government. Each supporting character has a complex background and role in the story. Luckily, the supporting cast is fantastic.
“No-Maj,” or nonmagical person, Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) helps the audience adjust to the elegant visuals of the magical world. His surprise and wonder at finding himself along for the adventure is comical, and Jacob keeps the audience laughing throughout the entire film. Meanwhile, witches Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie (Alison Sudol) are refreshingly charming as a pair of decidedly different magical sisters who also find themselves caught up in Newt’s chaos.
But if half of “Fantastic Beasts” is lighthearted, colorful exploration, the other half is dark. There’s manipulation, there’s suspense, there’s violence, there’s abuse. J.K. Rowling has a message here, and she intends to deliver it poignantly. Once again, supporting characters shine. Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) and Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) build the foundation for the darkest yet most touching parts of the film.
Perhaps the only complaint I have is that the movie seemed to race forward despite a running time of over 2 hours. “Fantastic Beasts” needed to be funny, exciting, and touching, but it also had to lay the foundation for four more movies. J.K. Rowling managed to accomplish all of that, but in the process, things like romantic storylines seemed to come out of nowhere, simply because it didn’t seem like characters knew each other long enough to fall in love.
Still, overall, the movie was pretty much perfect as the first installment in the new era of magic. It delivers the exposition and includes twists and loose ends for audiences to contemplate until the next movie. We’re given a thorough introduction to our kind-hearted main character. And as I hoped,“Fantastic Beasts” is in essence different from Harry Potter. Sure, J.K. Rowling throws in details that diehard Potter fans will appreciate and recognize. And yes, there’s obviously still magic and spells and a beautiful soundtrack and intense plot. But Harry Potter was a coming-of-age story. Newt is already all grown up.
So step aside, teenage angst, glasses, and lightning scar. It’s time for an eccentric, introverted hero, who’ll disapparate with a flash of his blue coat, hand tightly on his briefcase full of magical creatures.
