Prequel lacks magic touch
Five years on from Harry Potter’s final cinematic adventure – for now – we return to J.K. Rowling’s magical world of wizards for this Potter prequel.
The author’s script – based on her own textbook – transports us back to 1920s New York as we follow Eddie Redmayne’s writer Newt Scamander.
Newt finds himself ingrained in a secret community of witches and wizards as he pursues his work passionately promoting the care of magical creatures.
With Rowling on writing duties and David Yates – helmer of the last four Potter movies – behind the camera, this spin-off comes with much ‘Potter-verse’ experience.
And a lot of what made Harry, Ron and Hermione’s big screen journey work so well is present and correct once again.
Despite Fantastic Beasts being the launchpad for a new saga, which Rowling has confirmed will take in five flicks, there’s no getting away from the familiar tale of a doe-eyed hero introduced to a world of wonder – and danger.
Redmayne may be 23 years older than Daniel Radcliffe was when he first played Harry Potter – and count an Oscar win among his back catalogue – but the Westminster-born star fails to convince in the lead role.
His trademark low, nasally voice grates a lot more than usual, he unveils too many facial tics and is strangely subdued until the latter stages when Newt finally shows passion and energy.
Faring better is Dan Fogler’s “muggle” Jacob and Katherine Waterston’s magical government agency employee Porpentina, and there is some nice cameo work from Jon Voight (Henry Shaw) and Ron Perlman (Gnarlack).
Much like the Potter series, though, it’s the villains who shine the most; Samantha Morton (Mary Lou), Colin Farrell (Percival Graves) and soon-to-be-Flash Ezra Miller (Credence) all glowering with gleeful menace and shiftiness and Johnny Depp (Grindelwald) promising much horror to come in future instalments.
The visuals are top notch too, from Newt’s Hermione-like bottomless suitcase to the mystical creatures that escape from the luggage, it’s a smorgasbord of cracking creations.
Twenties’ New York is painstakingly rendered and the costumes are fitting of the era but with nice nods to future Potter stylings.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given he directed the later Potters, Yates seems more comfortable presenting the darker shifts in tone and The Second Salemers are a chilling group that may give some young nippers nightmares.
The big and bold climax almost makes up for the prequel’s earlier shortcomings and there’s more than enough promise on display to suggest Rowling’s haste to signpost four further entries wasn’t misplaced.
Speculation suggests London and Paris will feature going forward; this and more of Depp’s Grindelwald and the introduction of a young Dumbledore mean this bumpy first part of the journey will likely be worth the trip.