Eddie Redmayne stars in this new extension of the world of magic as created by J.K. Rowling and directed by David Yates – but is it as magical as it appears?
The Guardian: ***** “Rowling and Yates have given us a terrifically good-natured, unpretentious and irresistibly buoyant film.”
Hollywood Reporter: “Much of the film’s big wizarding-politics material will be appreciated mostly by those who thirst for ever more backstory in Rowling’s universe.”
Variety: “Yates knows this world as well as anyone, and he excels at finding visual solutions for challenging ideas.”
IGN: “the movie never establishes any real stakes — certainly nothing as frightful as the Dark Lord returning to power and killing the likable protagonist — so even though a magical threat endangers the city, it’s hard to get caught up in it all.”
NME: ***** “In its unflinching approach to political and personal tragedy, grown-up it is – but in some ways J.K. Rowling’s script will also be more enchanting to your inner kid than the Potter films ever were.”
Empire: *** “thanks to Rowling’s capacity for invention and some utterly glorious new beasts like kleptomaniac platypus the Niffler, the gamble largely succeeds — and, as you’d expect, it looks dazzling doing it.”
The Daily Mail: ***** “Veteran Potter director David Yates paces things perfectly and Rowling’s story will delight fans.”
The Telegraph: **** “as a feat of world-building and character-shaping, it sets an appealing stage.”
Den of Geek: *** “The sheer craft, some of the imagination (sign me up for giggle water) and the willingness to underpin the film with themes that matter, carry it through. But this one’s at times harder work than you might be prepared for.”
The Mirror: **** “gripping, exciting and just gorgeous to look at. It’s also very, very funny.”
The Times: **** “JK Rowling delivers a magical universe as chiaroscuro as ever, but with plenty of slapstick and surreal hilarity in Prohibition-era New York.”
Digital Spy: **** “It’s a success – thrilling, stunning, warm and witty.”