Colorful creatures and dazzling effects make J.K. Rowling's first screenplay, “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them,” wicked fun to watch, despite the weak plot. Rowling wrote this prequel to the Harry Potter series in 2001, the first of a five-book series (the second one being “Quidditch Through the Ages”) using the pen name Newt Scamander.

The first couple of minutes are wicked (those grand effects begin immediately) as a group of witches and wizards are fighting a losing battle over Hogwarts way against what or whom we don't really know. Yet.

Then the audience is taken through the dark past via headlines from the newspaper, The New York Ghost, warning of growing anti-wizard sentiment; of the insidious dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald's hellish activity in Europe, headlines about a missing dark wizard, formerly at Hogwarts; in the U.S., beasts are attacking the public and destroying cities and how critical things will become if the No-Maj's (American magical community's version of muggle), become aware of the wizarding community in the U.S. Interestingly enough, in the Harry Potter books, this book of Scamander's is the textbook Harry, Ron and Hermione use when they attend Hogwarts.

Next we travel to 1926 NYC, where this film takes place. The organization, The New Salem Philanthropic Society, is calling for a “Second Salem.” Led by a woman named Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) who firmly believes there are witches and wizards about and holds street rallies to warn citizens. She encourages them to be ever-watchful and to report anything they see or hear that is unusual or curious. Mary Lou also runs an orphanage and uses the children to hand out pamphlets and, well, think Fagan in Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.” The woman also beats the children, a teenage boy named Creedence (Ezra Miller) in particular.

Doesn't sound like the best time for British author Newt Scamander (played by Eddie Redmayne) to be planning a trip to NYC now does it? Newt has been traveling the world researching and collecting magical creatures for the book he has been asked to write about by the Ministry of Magic's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Newt was a member of the ministry until he accepted the book deal. Newt was also a student at Hogwarts, but he was expelled … more on that later.

Another major character is Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), a No-Maj bottle factory worker who dreams of being a baker. One day he arrives at a bank to see about a loan and meets Newt, who has come to the bank in search of a magical creature that escaped his suitcase — this little guy is called a Niffler and has a platypus mouth and is covered in long black hair with a kangaroo-like pouch that can never be filled — a good thing as they are obsessed with shiny things like coins, diamonds and gold.

Newt decides to sit on a bench and look around when Jacob sits down at the other end, their matching suitcases on the floor next to them. Newt gets up and leaves. Just before Jacob is called in for his appointment, he sees a sparkling blue egg — the size ostrich eggs must be — on the bench where Newt was. Jacob puts the egg in his pocket.

With no collateral, it's no surprise that Jacob's leather suitcase, filled with a selection of sweets, provides him no sway. Anyway, what kind of collateral does he have to offer the bank in return for the loan. None. Good luck and good afternoon, Mr. Kowalski. Don't let the door hit your backside on the way out. And, what's happening with that egg in your pocket?

A chance encounter with Newt outside leads to Jacob taking off with Newt's suitcase and running for home. Once there he makes the mistake of opening the case … and releasing all of the creatures inside. The creatures are endearing and beguiling, oh, and a tad dangerous; take the demiguise that looks like a baby monkey with large eyes but can also be invisible — in fact their fur is used to make invisibility cloaks! An occomy is a serpent with wings — bright purple and blue — that grow according to the amount of room they have; the billywig is a giant electric blue wasp-like creature with an extra long stinger. Ouch! Then there's erumphets, thunderbirds, graphorns, and a nundu. 

Popentina “Tina” Goldstein is a former auror for the Magical Congress of the U.S. who zeroes in on Newt as he heads into the bank. Tina was once an auror because she used unauthorized magic. Trying to score points, she brings Newt to the Congress and reports that the magical creatures he brought with him from London have been released. To say the Congress isn't happy about this news given the beasts that are already tearing up the city is an understatement.

One of the Congress' most powerful aurors, and the Magical Congress' head of security, is Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) whose assignment is to find out what fantastic beast is crumbling brick and stone buildings and tearing up cobblestone roads. Farrell is delightfully borderline sinister in this new role.

Tina's sister, Queenie Goldstein (Fine Frenzy), is a gorgeous free spirit who can read minds. Queenie also works at the Magical Congress offices. Queenie falls for Jacob, the first human she ever has the chance to get so close to — plus, they both love to bake! When Tina and Queenie put Jacob and Newt up for the night, the baker finds Queenie's skills out of the ordinary … it's all enchanting, really. Even more so when the two leave the girls' digs, via Newt's suitcase, where Jacob is introduced to so many magical creatures in all manner of habitat — from rain forest, to woods, to the American southwest. In a suitcase. Mary Poppins eat your heart out!

Fogler is delightful as the No-Maj who cannot believe the magical things that happen to him or the magical people he is befriended by. With every new creature he meets, Fogler conveys the wonder and amazement of the experience like, well, like any of us would coming face to face with the magical! Redmayne's portrayal of magizoologist Newt Scamander seems so natural — awkward and kind of aloof — mostly because he'd rather be with creatures of whom he is extremely protective than people.

The soundtrack by James Newton Howard is wonderfully otherworldly. Rowling wrote the screenplay and will be writing the next four as well. Rowling has director David Yates back on board (he directed the last four Harry Potter films).

Despite the plot line being a bit weak, the film is so worth seeing. More than once I do believe. To think the magical imaginings of J.K. Rowling will be taking us for a ride over the next decade is exciting indeed!

“Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them” is playing at The Harbor Theatre for three weeks. The film opened Thursday, Nov. 17. It plays at 7 p.m. Nov. 18-20, 23-27 with 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 20 and 27. The theater is located in the Meadow Mall.