What's so great about Harry Potter?

This is from an email I sent to a friend who is really excited about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince coming out in theaters on July 15.

I just don't get Harry Potter. I couldn't bring myself to finish even the first book. It just seemed like one ridiculous made up word after another, with two dimensional characters, and no substance. There's also the fact that Harry Potter has absolutely no redeeming characteristics aside from being a "chosen one" Jesus figure who suffers a lot and has no skill other than having a bunch of friends that he can mooch off of. Those friends all, in their own right, actually work hard and are talented. What are we teaching our children? That there's no need to work hard or actually be good at anything, because as long as you know the right people it'll all turn out in the end...and then you get to nail you best friend's sister?

I apologize to the other 40twenty bloggers that might like Harry Potter, especially A-Kaon since her parents probably read the first book to her before bed when she was in middle school.