Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Few series end on the same gratifying note as the “Harry Potter” franchise. Spanning a whopping 8 films (the last book being split into two), it remained remarkably consistent. At worst, the stories were workmanlike translations of J. K. Rowling's books, or a bit too fan-oriented. Now that we're at the end, what a journey it's been. With all of the exposition laid out in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1”, “Part 2” can jump right into it and deliver everything we’ve been anticipating.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) continue their search for the horcruxes - magical objects in which Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) has hidden pieces of his soul. As the trio scrambles to find the artifacts and a way to destroy them, they realize their quest will bring them back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, now governed by Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and the rest of Voldemort’s Death Eaters.

After the persistent dread of “Part 1”, our heroes can finally enjoy a glimmer of hope. It isn’t going to be easy but finally, we feel ready to tackle the big bad… for the most part. The film, the characters and the audience always remember that our main characters are teenagers. They may have faced - and survived - enormous dangers but it’s always been through a combination of their wits, ingenuity, and a lot of dumb luck. There are no teachers to fall back upon now; it’s just the three of them desperately piecing together the last clues handed to them by their late headmaster. As we reach the finale, everyone we’ve met over the years gets to play a part. Emphasis on everyone. As before, you need to have seen all of the previous chapters, understand the lore, remember who was the teacher of this class X years ago, why this character was important to Ron or Hermione, how we felt about this person when we met them versus now, etc. In a movie with “Part 2” in the title, you know this going in.

The film works because we have already invested time and effort into it, because we have spent years watching and revisiting these people and these places while eagerly awaiting the ultimate showdown. All of the characters returning - even if it’s just for a tiny moment - makes you feel like you’re there too. This fight isn’t just about the boy who lived anymore, it’s about all of us.

Let's pause to think about what a monumental task this was for director David Yates. Going in, all of your feelings and expectations are amplified. The second that familiar theme by John Williams comes in, you reach for the tissues. This could be the last time we hear it - ever. Still, it wouldn’t have been worth the wait had the scale been wrong. This is the final battle between a 17-year-old and an irredeemably evil wizard with a snake face but you don’t want it to feel silly, you want it to be epic - and it is. In the action scenes, you’ll have difficulty sitting still. You'll be too busy wringing your hands in nervousness, moving from side-to-side trying to dodge the spells flying throughout the air or punching into the air to show your support for our heroes.

There are a few character’s stories which are not completely resolved - Timothy Spall’s Peter Pettygrew for example. I would've rather seen those ends tied than the epilogue. If I were to fish around for more criticisms you could also say that no, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2” is not REALLY a film, it’s HALF a film. Does that take away how frightening it gets, or how joyous it make you feel when things are going well for our beloved trio? Does it make the tragedies any less devastating or the battle any less epic? No. The series has grown up since the lighthearted whimsy and innocence of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” all those years ago. It’s built upon itself, expanded its world, gotten us to fall in love with its characters and enchanted audiences. Never more than in this final chapter. (On Blu-ray, November 15, 2019)