Fantastic Beasts Movie Review

 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a dip into an American Wizardry world.

The story opens as Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) enters 1920’s New York searching for magical creatures. Scamander is a bungling Dr. Doolittle-esque character that quickly finds out that his mischievous little buddies do not necessarily want to stay hidden in this new land full of shiny  things. Newt joins with a down on his luck No-Maj  (which is an American term for muggles aka non magic human) named Jacob Kowalski  (Dan Fogler). Newt and Jacob twirl in and out of both worlds as pandemonium ensues when one of Newt’s creatures escapes his suitcase and into a bank.

Catherine Waterston’s Porpentina is on a mission to prove herself but she’s just as clumsy at doing good as Newt. Porpentina’s sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol) links these duos together. The foursome take a whimsical ride through New York  and Newt’s suitcase habitat.

While there are a few familiar name drops peppered throughout, one is never really connected to the Harry Potter series. This is a fun look at how different American wizards deal with living among No-Maj compared to how England has adapted to the same.  We also get a look at how they deal with certain issues and how they are delat with among the magic community as well.

We also have to mention that the fantastic beasts are truly fantastic and a great comic relief.  Dan Fogler and Eddie Redmayne put in stellar performances. The chemistry between these two was on point and a refreshingly new kind of bromance. Lastly, although we may not have gotten a lot of Colin Farrell’s Percival Graves, the character is pivotal to the movie.

This film is rated PG-13.

I rate this 5 Occamy Eggs out of 5.

Check out the video below for an audience reaction to the film:

Cast

Eddie Redmayne – Newt Scamander

Catherine Waterston – Porpentina Goldstein

Dan Fogler – Jacob Kowalski

Alison Sudol – Queenie Goldstein

Colin Farrell – Percival Graves

Ezra Miller  – Credence

Faith Wood-Blagrove – Modesty

Samantha Morton – Mary Lou

Carmen Ejogo -Seraphina Picquery

Director – David Yates

Writer – J.K. Rowling