We went and saw the newest wizard movie by JK Rowling and it did not disappoint. It is about a young wizard who has come to America in the 1920s or so, looking for a rare creature for his collection. He accidentally runs into a no-maj (American for muggle, non magical person) and his adventures are soon stretched to the max. He ends up switching suitcases with the no-maj and since he keeps drawing himself in, the no-maj American is involved throughout the movie. It is fun letting an outsider into the wizard world, we see a lot through his eyes as his mind is blown time after time. Part of the reason he keeps him around so long is that one of his Fantastic Beasts he carries in his bag happens to bite the no-maj, and he needs to keep an eye on him to see if he is going to shoot fire out of his butt, which is a side effect. Ultimately, he admits to keeping him around because they have become friends and he is fond of him.
Along the way, the wizard, Newt Scamander, runs into Tina, who is an auror that has lost her license. She tries to do the right thing and gets convicted of treason against the wizarding world. Newt is accused of releasing beasts from his suitcase and causing mayhem, in reality it is an obscuris, created from a kid who is not accepting his magic, or something like that. Along the way, we also meet Tina's sister who is all sorts of dreamy and talks in that soothing sexy voice that even in my seat I wanted to agree and have her read my mind. She falls for the no-maj and they have a couple moments where they stare into each other's eyes.
The coolest thing in the movie is probably Newt's suitcase which like the tent's in Harry's world go much deeper and bigger than it appears. He has a whole savanna in there, a forest, and whatever other space he needs for the many animals and beasts he tracks and captures.
The no-maj, played by Dan Fogler is a stocky guy, doing mostly comedy stuff, most recently he's been appearing in the Goldberg's as the dad's brother. He added a very much needed funny edge to the movie, as the wizards take themselves way too seriously. His dream is to open a bakery making pastries like his grandmother taught him. The banks won't take him seriously as he has no collateral so he must continue slaving away in the factory he detests. Newt finds a way to help him out in the end, and in the final scene we see a very happy no-maj making pastries in the shape of the beasts he has seen and possibly something even sweeter for him to sink his teeth into.
The movie was cool overall, and it is even better knowing it has a five movie total to tell whatever arcing bigger story is there to tell. I hope Newt and the no-maj team up again as they had pretty good chemistry as a serious hero and funny side kick sort of way.
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