CREDIT: WARNER BROS. PICTURES
The first Harry Potter spin-off film is successful in most areas, but fails in the acting department.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the first in a new Harry Potter spin-off movie series written and produced by J. K. Rowling. The series follows the adventures of Newt Scamander. The author of the book of the same name which is an encyclopedia of magical creatures from the Harry Potter universe referenced by the characters for their Care of Magical Creatures class.

The film is set in 1926, during a tense period in which the wizarding world is struggling to keep themselves secret from non-magical people, called muggles or nomaj’s.

On a trip to New York, a city where there are strict laws banning magical creatures, Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) gets in trouble with Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) who is a former Auror, an employee of the Ministry of Magic who hunts down dark wizards.

When his treasure-seeking Niffler escapes Scamander’s suitcase in a bank, the two must track down Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a muggle who witnessed Scamander using magic, so that they can wipe his memory and maintain the secrecy of the wizarding world. Before they know it, they are working together on the run to prove their innocence and save their lives.

The cast of Fantastic Beasts is unspectacular: there is a cheesiness to the performances of the entire main cast that you get used to and can ignore after a while but initially detracts from the film.

The performances feel like children’s theatre at some times, failed attempts at serious dramatic acting other times. Redmayne offers a quirky performance with a knowing edge. Curiously, exceptions lie with the minor characters including Ezra Miller who is the perfect fit for his intense, damaged and alienated character Credence Barebone.

Then there is the Shaw family who all deliver believable and engaging performances, particularly Ronan Raftery who seems so genuinely passionate and radiates energy into his role. Johnny Depp’s brief appearance is also excellent.

The movie is also obviously intentionally choreographed with characters constantly forming and interacting within tableaus. It’s a stylistic choice which works well in some scenes but feels awkward in others as you can’t help but notice that people never behave this way in real life.

The Harry Potter aesthetic and atmosphere is pulled off perfectly and honoured. The special effects are the highlight of this film. The magical creatures are diverse, distinct and entertaining to look at; they are colourful and covered with shimmering textures and awesome detail. Their look fits in with the magical creatures of the previously known Harry Potter universe perfectly, but the creatures in this film are often far more wild and compelling than creatures from previous Harry Potter films.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a faithful and fun spin off that enhances the series as a whole. Plenty of exciting new elements are introduced to the Harry Potter universe but not so many that the franchise feels in any way compromised. The plot is fun driven, clever and adventure packed. The pacing is natural and effective with unpredictable plot twists. Humour is incorporated into serious situations in believable and clever ways. The humour and writing in general has a distinctive charm. This film achieves exactly what it needed to, though it could have been improved by better casting choices.