ReelBob: ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ ★½
By Bob Bloom
The magic is definitely fading from J.K. Rowling’s “Wizarding World” franchise as evidenced by its newest release, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”
This third feature in the series of “Harry Potter” prequels lacks urgency and is much too long.
Plus, the spell of all the sorcery has become too tame and familiar.
Perhaps it is because we are dealing with a world of adult wizards. The major charm of the “Harry Potter” movies was a trio of smart and spunky adolescents battling overwhelming odds to save their world.
In “The Secrets of Dumbledore” it is Dumbledore (Jude Law), his friend, Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Muggle baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Folger) and a couple of other allies battling dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen, replacing Johnny Depp), who is seeking control of the wizarding world, and his minions.
The movie lacks zest, it seems to simply coast along with the characters reprising schtick from their previous movies.
Redmayne’s Scamander continues to feel more comfortable around the various animals he tends than fellow wizards, Law’s Dumbledore remains maddeningly enigmatic and Folger’s Kowalski still is amazed and befuddled by the magic surrounding him.
Even the plot device hinting of an earlier romance between Dumbledore and Grindelwald can’t add any zest to the proceedings.
The movie is supposed to portray a battle between good and evil, but plays more like old-time, backroom machinations at a political party convention.
It does not help that the film, directed by David Yates, has a gloomy sheen, as if all the life had been drained from the magical domain.
“The Secrets of Dumbledore” is too adult to appeal to children, while those who grew up reading the “Harry Potter” books or watching the movies may have moved on to other interests.
Even the movie’s special effects are beginning to feel routine.
The film seems as if it was done by rote — it lacks spark, surprise and the larger-than-life elements that should make these features, well, magical.
“Secrets of Dumbledore” meanders from sequence to sequence; it’s a lazy movie living off the reputation and good will of “Harry Potter’s” world. Too bad, the young wizard can’t just make the movie disappear.
I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. I review movies, 4K UHD, Blu-rays and DVDs for ReelBob (ReelBob.com), The Film Yap and other print and online publications. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com. You also can follow me on Twitter @ReelBobBloom and on Facebook at ReelBob.com or the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My movie reviews also can be found at Rotten Tomatoes: www.rottentomatoes.com.
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE
1½ stars out of 4
PG-13, fantasy violence and action