The latest instalment of the Fantastic Beasts prequels, while a notable step-up from The Crimes of Grindelwald, feels like a spinoff of a spinoff. Although the chemistry between Mad Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald and Jude Law’s Dumbledore is undoubtably evident, this third instalment of the series is slow and meandering.

My first problem was that only half of the cast from the other movies is even there; then a bunch of new characters are introduced. Many of these new characters feel like they were just thrown in there, not so much to further the plot but to reference wizarding world family names that only the most observant Potter fans would even notice.

Speaking of plot, the film honestly just feels like a bunch of stuff that happens. The plot meanders from place to place with no sense of urgency, and the characters barely have any connection to or impact on the events that happen. Some of the action scenes are fun, but they don’t do much to move the plot forward. The copious amounts of green screen take out the flavour and the final showdown in Bhutan feels as empty as a cookie jar after Santa visits.

I did love the world-building, which has been a strength of the prequels since the first movie. The early 20th-century aesthetic is cosy and suits the magical world well, and Jude Law is the perfect young Dumbledore. However the sense of wonder from the first movie is lacking; there’s barely any fantastic beasts and there’s a lot more political intrigue (which gets stuffy very quickly).

If you’re a Potter fan like me, you’ll enjoy the little Easter eggs throughout the film. Give it a watch and let me know what you think in the comments!