Fantastic Beasts is only loosely inspired by the mini-encyclopedia of the same name that formed a small addendum to the Harry Potter canon. But its screenplay was written by J.K. Rowling herself, which makes it a proper contribution to the popular fictional universe.

The film’s protagonist, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), is a magizoologist from Britain. Traveling with a suitcase that contains multitudes of magical beasts, he finds himself immersed (and scapegoated) in a sinister plot revolving around a child with magical powers. Along the way, he befriends a muggle (or “no-maj” as the Americans say, a person without magic) and two sisters who work for the Magical Congress of the United States of America.

Much of the film deals with capturing some of the beasts that have escaped from the suitcase, and they are indeed a joy to behold. The niffler in particular steals every scene it is in, looking for opportunities to amass wealth while avoiding re-capture. But there’s a beast for everyone to enjoy, and lots of merchandising is sure to follow.

At times, the film introduces characters we only meet once or twice without giving us much of an understanding why they are there, like the newspaper magnate Henry Shaw Sr. (played by Jon Voight) and his family. A sequel to the film is planned, so this may well tie into a larger story that is yet to unfold. Either way, the storytelling isn’t always as smooth and coherent as it could be. But the film’s upsides strongly outweigh these deficits: imaginative visuals, lovely chemistry between the main characters, lots of attention to detail, and an extension of the Harry Potter universe that feels organic rather than forced.

The Verdict

If you enjoy the Harry Potter universe, you will most likely enjoy this film and look forward to the sequel. If you aren’t too familiar with the franchise, you’ll miss some interesting references (and contrasts between the American world of magic and the British one that the franchise previously focused on), but you’ll still be able to have fun. Recommended.