“Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?”
Critic rating: 9.5/10
* SPOILERS AHEAD *
Arriving in theaters during Thanksgiving weekend, and now available for streaming online, was part one of the highly anticipated movie musical, Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu. With all of the press and media attention this movie has gotten in the past few months, it is hard not to know about this movie. Ever since the casting was announced on November 4th, 2021, fans have speculated about how pop-star Ariana Grande and Tony Award-Winning Cynthia Erivo would portray the characters of Glinda and Elphaba. Now, with its release, Wicked finally answers, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally powerful experience that reimagines the Land of Oz for a new generation.
Wicked tells the untold story of the two witches, Glinda the Good Witch and The Wicked Witch of the West, introduced in L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The plot of the movie is based on the musical, Wicked, which debuted on Broadway in 2003.
The movie, just as its predecessors, follows the complex relationship between Glinda, the bubbly “good witch,” and Elphaba, the misunderstood, and, more notably, green, “wicked witch.” The movie opens with a glimpse into the future, with Glinda visiting Munchkinland, announcing that Elphaba, The Wicked Witch, has been killed by a teenage girl, Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.” Glinda begins to explain her friendship with Elphaba, during their time at Shiz University. At Shiz, the two initially clash due to their differences in personality and appearance. Glinda thrives on popularity, while Elphaba, ostracized for her green skin, focuses on her dream of meeting the Wizard of Oz. The girls are placed as roommates, much to Glinda’s dismay.
However, what began as a rivalry, ends up turning into a very close friendship. Through a singular flashback, the film explores their relationship, exploring themes of acceptance, social justice, betrayal, and the moral ambiguity of what it means to be good or “wicked.” The film stays true to the heart of the musical while taking advantage of its cinematic format to expand on the world of Oz. From the Emerald City to Shiz, the movie used entirely real-life sets, as demanded by director Jon M. Chu. The audience can feel this. The landscapes make Oz feel real, from start to finish.
Ariana Grande’s version of Glinda is hilarious and endearing. Having been a long-time fan of Wicked, her passion shines through. Her comedic timing to her heartfelt renditions of “Popular,” and “No One Mourns the Wicked,” makes her portrayal feel very personal. She truly stands out in the film, proving herself as a talented actress, as well as a multifaceted performer.
Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba delivers a performance that is equal parts vulnerable and strong. She makes Elphaba feel extremely relatable, allowing the audience to view the character in a new perspective. Her vocals further amplify the character’s intensity. She does a near-perfect execution of Elphaba.
Together, they give new life to this timeless story, captivating both long-time fans and those experiencing Wicked for the first time. Their incredible vocals were one of the most memorable parts of the movie.
While Wicked is often framed as a story about friendship, the relationship between Glinda and Elphaba has a subtle romantic undertone that is prominent in Gregory Maguire’s original novel. The film carefully captures this complexity of their relationship. This approach adds further depth to the story, making Glinda and Elphaba the emotional core of Wicked. When explaining their relationship in a Variety interview, Grande states, “I mean, it is just a true love. And I think that transcends sexuality, it’s just kind of a deep safety within each other. I think she loves Glinda, I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have…it’s a relationship, it is true love.”
Jon M. Chu’s direction elevates Wicked from the stage production to a cinematic masterpiece. Known for his ability to have both visual beauty and emotional depth (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Chu brings a clear vision to the film. His insistence on using real-life sets instead of relying solely on CGI creates an immersive world, making the Emerald City, Shiz University, and other iconic locations feel real. The film’s aerial shots draw viewers into the story, bringing both grandeur to Oz and focusing on intimate moments between characters.
The opening scene, where the Wicked Witch of the West is “killed” automatically pulls the audience in. Paired with the amazing soundtrack of the film, the audience is forced to be captivated by the overwhelming moment. Following an incredible start, are some slower, but necessary parts of the film. The scenes of them at Shiz give the audience the chance to understand these well-known characters. Since they practically start as enemies, the movie’s exploration of their reconciliation and relationship is extremely satisfying.
Without any major spoilers for the film, it is easy to say that the film is quite well paced, and, more importantly, self aware. The film could feel more awkward, but it doesn’t, because everything it does, from the over-the-top acting to the musical numbers, it does 100%. The concluding 25 minutes of this film are successful with their task of concluding this film, even though it is technically only half of the story. The build up throughout the entire film leads to a fulfilling, and audibly pleasing, series of events, giving the audience just enough to leave them wanting another 3-hour film.
In the second part of Wicked, we are to expect even more complex development of the characters we have been briefly introduced to. Some of these characters we are expected to learn more about are Fiyero, Boq, and Nessa-Rose, all of which will play a more prominent role in the second film. Despite that, we should not undermine the impact they had in this film. Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode, respectively, all provided even more talent to the film. These characters give more life to the story, and all succeed in making the story and setting of Shiz much more engaging to the audience.
If you enjoy talented actors and singers, you will most likely like this movie. The musical aspect of the film is beautiful to those willing to accept its effect, and elevates the film in comparison to the overdone musical-to-film adaptations. The meticulous direction and production of this movie make for an extremely entertaining and enjoyable moving-going experience, definitely less so if you have people in your theater singing along (although it is hard not to). Ultimately, Wicked is a very fun and interactive watch. The positive reactions to the film are reasonable once you are able to watch the magic of Wicked come to life.
