Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Back in 2016, author J.K. Rowling made a successful attempt at expanding her Harry Potter universe with the first of her proposed five-film series “Fantastic Beasts,” and “Where to Find Them.”
Under the direction of veteran Harry Potter director David Yates, longtime fans were treated to an early era of the Wizarding World before the birth of the famous boy wizard.
Both the writer and the director return for the second installment “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which continues from where the first story left off for another fun adventure with all the magic and mischief you’ve come to expect.
Though he was captured by the MACUSA at the end of the first film, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) still managed to escape New York from the authorities before disappearing from sight. Three months later, zoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is in London trying to get his brother Theseus (Callum Turner) to lift a travel ban on his magical creatures. Instead, he runs into his old professor, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law), from Hogwarts who wants him to find Grindelwald in Paris.
It seems the villainous warlock is getting as many followers to threaten the peaceful existence between the Magic World and the No-Maj World. One of them is the orphaned Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), who came to Paris in search of his true family lineage. Once he arrives there, Newt hopes to reunite with American wizard Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) and help him find the young orphan before time runs out.
Joining him is his No-Maj buddy Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) who just broke up with Tina’s sister Queenie (Alison Sudol) from a forbidden relationship. However, Grindelwald’s dark power is already casting over the citizens of Paris as alliances and friendships are tested. Revelations soon come to light including a dark secret held by Newt’s old classmate Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz) that could be the answer to everything happening.
Rowling seems to be having a ball coming up with a second chapter of her story full of twists and turns that fans will likely be overwhelmed by them. However, her script suffers from overcooking and undercooking any aspect of her story that’s supposed to be pivotal to her Wizarding World. She tends to overcomplicate any situation, and they all require a lot of exposition from characters, which can be dizzying for any average viewer.
Character relationships also don’t seem to go far enough. She and the editor might’ve tried too hard to tell this chapter in a way to fit an agreed runtime.
Speaking of which, the move runs 140 minutes that feels like almost 180 when a good shaving is needed. Still, it’s another fun ride through the magical world fans of the series have grown to love since the first Harry Potter film came out in 2001.
This film boasts some incredible visual effects and production design that really dazzles. It also offers some nostalgia for fans when we finally return to Hogwarts accompanied by the classic “Hedwig’s Theme,” by John Williams that’ll leave a pleasant smile on their faces. The visuals alone do help the film overcome its writing issues.
Redmayne is once again delightful as the main character, while Law holds his own as young Dumbledore. While it’s difficult to compete with what Michael Gambon and the late Richard Harris did before him, the veteran British actor managed to make the character his own thanks to his likable persona.
Depp is absolutely terrific as the main villain thanks to his vocal commitment and physical appearance that’s quite different from his other memorable roles.
While fans will certainly love it, “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” will likely leave regular viewers frustrated by its storytelling issues. It’s simply a middling entry in the series that still has some good things going for it. Maybe a further draft or two would’ve helped make it a lot more entertaining. Still, you won’t be surprised if this film does very well at the box office to usher in the next installment already scheduled to come out in 2020.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for some sequences of fantasy action)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 2.75 Stars (Out of Four)
