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It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than a decade since the final Harry Potter book was published—yet the boy wizard’s following is still growing in leaps and bounds. And even though the original series has ended, fans can still revisit the wizarding world in theaters with the latest prequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald finds magical creature expert Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) back in London. Following the fiasco in New York, he’s been banned from international travel—but Professor Dumbledore (Jude Law) has other plans. Notorious criminal and rabble-rouser Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) has escaped prison and is building a following of wizards who believe that they should rule over non-magical people. He’s reportedly in Paris, following a mysterious young man called Credence (Ezra Miller), who could be the key to restoring peace. So Dumbledore sends Newt on a mission to France.
There’s no denying that the Fantastic Beasts movies have a strong nostalgic appeal. For fans of Harry Potter and his wizarding world, each new film in the growing franchise is a must-see. After all, while Harry and his friends are still 70 years or so in the future, this film still refers to characters and events that were mentioned in the books—and it’s made even more exciting by the appearance of a young Dumbledore. Just like earlier films, it’s dark and shadowy, with eye-catching sets, imaginative effects, and all kinds of fascinating creatures—and it builds on the characters developed in its 2016 predecessor.
Unfortunately, though, the world before Harry isn’t nearly as memorable—nor is it as well crafted—as the original installments. Redmayne makes a lovable character, but he’s an underwhelming hero—and there’s really no reason why someone who studies magical beasts should be sent on this important mission to track an all-powerful wizard. In fact, most of the film feels like it’s made up of red herrings and filler: plenty of family drama, some relationship issues, and a whole lot of adventures that have very little to do with the main storyline. It’s surprisingly complicated—and unnecessarily so. And while it keeps loyal fans interested with its occasional references to familiar characters, it all just feels drab and superfluous.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is still magical and imaginative—but the story of this second prequel still hasn’t grown into something that lives up to the Harry Potter hype. It’s good for a little bit of nostalgia—but that’s about it.
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