No Real Mag (But Fun)

Rating: 7/10 (22 November 2016)

(RATING: ☆☆☆½ out of 5) THIS FILM IS RECOMMENDED. IN BRIEF: Not really magical, but there's enough spirit and fun in this fantasy adventure. GRADE: B- SYNOPSIS: A prequel to the Harry Potter franchise that offers a new wizard to believe in. JIM'S REVIEW: Brevity and simplicity have never been J. K. Rowling's strength. The more complex her plot is, the better she feels. A prolific and creative writer, she creates interesting stories and evokes involving characters in her works. That remains a constant factor in her latest venture, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, although the final results seems like a work-in-progress rather than a finished product. ￼Well, there are plenty of creatures afoot, and far many plot strands and characters that take their time to take shape. (Apparently, this is the first of a five set franchise, a prequel of sorts to the Harry Potter series. Perhaps this might explain some minor characters like Jon Voight's ambitious politician or the Barebone children having rather minor roles in this outing, as they really do nothing to advance the plot.) The story (stories) goes like this: Plot 1 (the main one): Armed with his suitcase of magical creatures, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) visits 1920's New York City, only to lose some along the way. He befriends Jacob Kowalski, a No-Maj (as in non-magical human), who helps him to capture these animal escapees. Plot 2: A evil wizard named Gellert Grindelwald has also escaped and is a wanted fugitive. Plot 3: Mary Lou Barebone has a mission to warn others of these evil wizards among us. She is the zealous type, one that would make Carrie's mother envious. She also raises some spooky children, including an adoptive son named Credence. Plot 4: Two mystical sisters, Tina Goldstein and his mind-reading sibling, Queenie, become comrades to Newt and Jacob and also serve as their love interests. Plot 5: Percival Graves, a ruthless wizard is searching for a black destructive force called an Obscurus that is causing mayhem to the metropolis. That's a lot to take in...and the film succeeds as the film progresses, although getting there is a journey in itself. ￼The first half of the film is a bit of a muddle, or Muggle as in No-Mag (as in no cinematic magic). Ms. Rowling lays the foundation of things to come, but the dialog is more serviceable than compelling. Characters speak in large patches of heavy exposition and plotting to further explain the overloaded narrative, without much real excitement or conviction. There are far too many chase sequences to show off the CGI in order to catch various fabulous escaped creatures which actually hinders the main story. (The film's leisurely pace relies too much on cutesy adventures to disguise its darker underbelly. It is not until we enter a speakeasy setting, about an hour into the movie, that the film shows some cleverness and wit. Only then did it start to reel in this moviegoer.) ￼Production values are strong. David Yates' direction is solid, if somewhat conventional. He and a screenplay, credited to a lady named Rowling, let the action dissipate by having several subplots which interfere with the efficiency of the storytelling and some chase scenes that go on too long. But the director does cast his film very well. In fact, the minor characters upstage the central characters (and the CGI as well). While Mr. Redmayne's interpretation of Newt may seem underwhelming and demure for his own good, he is nevertheless entertaining. So is Katherine Waterson as his partner. Yet their characters come off as slightly wan, especially compared to the more showier roles around them. Colin Farrell helps immensely as Newt's foe and Ezra Miller brings the sadness and vulnerability to his role. There is also fine support by Samantha Morton and Ron Perlman. But the real magic to the film is the lovely chemistry between Dan Fogler and Alison Sudol as the mismatched sweethearts. They simply steal the film with their subtle and nuanced performances. ￼Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a nice romp. This fantasy is not fantastic entertainment, nor, for that matter, is it beastly, but you know where to find them...in Ms. Rowling's fertile imagination...with Part Two soon to be on a movie screen near you, in a year or two.