The third installment in the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ trilogy rebounds quite a bit from the sluggish second entry but still can’t come close to holding a candle to the original Harry Potter films. In and of itself, it’s not a terrible film (thanks in large part to Jude Law’s capable turn as a young Dumbledore) but for the most part, it can’t seem to help but feel like yet another bit of so-so, esoteric filler as we pass the midpoint in the planned five-part series.

2.5/5 stars