'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' hits a sweet spot of surprise and familiarity (A-)

One of the many brilliant aspects of the Harry Potter books was that children could age with them. Fans who started J.K. Rowling's series when they were 11 (as Harry was in the first book), grew alongside Harry, facing his destiny at 17 in the seventh and final book.

Now, the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, with its focus on young wizards and witches in their 20s, arrives like an unexpected gift to that first generation of readers. They can not only go back in the world of magic, they can revel alongside witches and wizards starting careers and kindling romances.

This prequel to Harry's British-centric world is set in New York City. It's 1926, and there's a new set of characters. The screenplay, written by Rowling, offers the densely plotted story of Newt Scamander, the author of one of Harry's favorite wizarding books.

Played as a shy, academic wizard by Eddie Redmayne, Newt has come to America to save fantastic beasts. They live up to the hype, including a sentient, tiny leaf figure, a love-sick rhino-like creature and a pilfering purple scalawag.

Earnest witch Porpentina (Katherine Waterston), thinking Newt suspicious, turns him in to magic officials. But they have more pressing problems, such as stopping the unknown magical person killing No-maj folk (the American term for Muggles).

It's not just the sharp-toothed beasts that have bite. Rowling slips in thoughtful issues about what can happen when people repress their identity and the pain of segregation, which here pertains to lines drawn between magical and No-maj folks.

The story folds that into the mix while hitting a sweet spot of familiarity and surprise. Veteran Potter director David Yates has fresh tricks up his sleeve as he preps for four more planned films. Five years after the last Potter movie, his 20-something fans can age alongside wizards and witches again. Magical.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (A-)

PG-13 (for some fantasy action violence). 132 minutes. In wide release.