Eddie Redmayne plays the slightly-eccentric Brit who travels to 20s New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures. Naturally, they escape and all manner of mayhem ensues. The visual effects are remarkable and the beasts are truly fantastic. On the other hand, the story isn’t especially inventive and the direction lacks personality. Even Redmayne resorts to the gawky, awkward style that’s often apparent in his work. While there are clever moments and a few mildly enjoyable characters, it’s just a noisy, jumbled disarray by the end. The overall effect is visually dazzling and fun to watch, but not especially captivating on a human level. Look for Johnny Depp in a cameo near the end.
(3.5 / 5)