Brilliant performances, effects, ideas and themes do enough to soften the impact of its major issues with tone

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2016)

Fantastic Beasts isn't as bad as you feared, and while its not quite as incredible as you want to believe it could be, it continues J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World with a series containing enough magic of its own to feel worthy of its place alongside Potter. Strong cast performances - particularly from Eddie Redmayne as the charming lead - and some solid work from Rowling as screenwriter and Yates as director work in the films favour, helping to craft the fun, whimsical and joyful adventure it takes you on, as well as hinting at some darker themes it doesn't yet have the conviction and confidence to champion at the film's forefront. It struggles in its overall ability to settle on a tone, plumping for two opposing narrative strands that struggle to co-exist in the same film, but ultimately do manage to end up in a place that combines the two for something a little more digestible. On the whole, it is undeniably fun and enjoyable, hinting at some interesting ideas and thematic work that could be incredibly effective by ironing out some of the niggling issues. A solid return for the Wizarding World.
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