"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" can be enjoyed by wizards and muggles alike.

Rating: 7/10 (21 November 2016)

Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person in the English-speaking world (or beyond) who has never read a Harry Potter book or seen a Harry Potter movie. I have nothing personal against the little wizard. It's just that his story never interested me until now. I'm not much of a reader (considering movies to be a more efficient use of the time that I have available for entertainment) and the film franchise ended before I started regularly writing movie reviews. But, in 2016, as a published reviewer, I felt that it was my responsibility to see "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" (PG-13, 2:13) – and to do so with an open mind, as I try to do with all the movies that I see and review. On all counts, I'm glad I did my duty.
What does this movie have to do with Harry Potter's story, you ask. Well, I'm just an ordinary muggle, but I have done my research, so please allow me to take a crack at answering your question: "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is one of the titles on the mandatory reading list for first year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when 11-year-old Harry Potter first began attending. The then classic textbook was ostensibly written by someone named Newt Scamander. In our non-magical world, such a tome appeared on book shelves in 2001. The book announced the same Newt Scamander as its author, but was, of course, written by Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling (with the profits going to the charity Comic Relief). In 2013, Rowling struck a deal to adapt her book into a screenplay (her first foray into screen writing) and co-produce this, the first film in a planned 5-part series. And here we are.
In 1926 (which Harry Potter fans may know, is the year before the aforementioned textbook was published), Newt Scamander (Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne) is finishing his globe-trotting research for what will become his Hogwarts-approved text. Before he heads home to the British Isles, however, he stops in New York on his way to Arizona, where he plans to release a Thunderbird named Frank in his natural habitat. Newt is carrying a suitcase which would probably qualify as a modern-day carry-on, but through magical means, contains a number of strange creatures – in a whole fantastical magical world. Unfortunately (for Newt, that is, but fortunate for us Movie Fans), Newt's stopover in New York quickly turns chaotic. He is being spied on by Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), a former Auror (security official) who is working for (but fallen somewhat out of favor with) the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). Newt is being confronted by an anti-magic street preacher named Mary Lou Barebone (Oscar nominee Samantha Morton) when one of Newt's creatures (a cute platypus-looking, coin and jewelry-loving "niffler") escapes from Newt's case and runs into a bank.
As he uses his wizardry to retrieve his niffler, Newt becomes entangled with a hapless wannabe baker named Jacob Kowalski (comedian and voice actor Dan Fogler). Before Newt can obliviate Jacob (erase from his memory the magic he has witnessed), Jacob runs off after accidentally switching his case of pastries with Newt's case, with its plethora of magical creatures. (Can I get an "uh-oh"!) Tina tries to use the situation to get back into the good graces of MACUSA and its no-nonsense President Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo), but they both are quickly distracted by the magical havoc being wreaked in New York City. Naturally, when Jacob opens "his" case, Newt's creatures escape, which forces Newt both to save and partner with Jacob and also soon involving Tina and her younger sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol), who can read minds and who becomes quite smitten with Jacob. Meanwhile, Henry Shaw (Oscar winner Jon Voight), the father of an ambitious young U.S. Senator, and the mysterious and morally questionable Mary Lou and her troubled adopted son, Credence (Ezra Miller) get caught up in this whole mess in some very dramatic ways, as does MACUSA Auror Percival Graves (Oscar nominee Colin Farrell), who was already investigating a destructive magical entity in NYC and has questionable motives himself.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is a delightful and creative journey into a world which a boy wizard and a muggle (or a "no-maj", which is the American equivalent) would likely find equally fascinating. The story may be tough to follow for those who are new to the Harry Potter universe, but reading non-spoiler summaries like the one above should help. Either way, it's a lot of fun to take it all in and learn as you go. The story has a lot going on, but Rowling and director David Yates (he of the last four Harry Potter films) weave the various plot threads together wonderfully and include some nice "Easter Eggs" for the many Harry Potter fans who will be watching. The casting is excellent (and in one late reveal, thrillingly startling), but Redmayne's portrayal of Newt as a bumbler is a bit distracting and Waterson's Tina is a little inconsistent. The visual effects are very good (and worth seeing in 3D), but feel somewhat overused. All in all, however, this movie is an entertaining excursion and a great introduction to those of us who were heretofore unfamiliar with the imaginative worlds created by J.K. Rowling. "B+"