I first saw Wicked on Broadway in 2005 during a family trip, and for the next few years the original cast recording was in heavy rotation on my iPod. I wasn’t a theater kid by any stretch of the imagination, yet I was enthralled by Wicked for a short while. My interest waned in my teens, though I did end up loving drama class in high school and generally enjoyed musicals, but I always had a soft spot for Wicked. When I heard news that it was getting a film adaptation, I was interested but apprehensive, and worked to have little to no expectations going into my screening.
For those who are unaware, Wicked is the story of the history between The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, focusing on their time together as roommates attending Shiz University – known then by their given names Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande-Butera). Originally antagonistic towards one another, we see their friendship blossoming against a backdrop for political unrest in Oz over the course of Wicked: Part One’s runtime, adapting the first act of the stage musical.
By virtue of being adapted from one of the most popular musicals of all time, Wicked didn’t shy away from the fact that it was indeed a musical. This was refreshing in a year of musical movies that seemed to want to hide the fact that they were musicals in their marketing (looking at you Mean Girls and Wonka). Musical numbers abound in Wicked, and each one embraces Wicked’s past as a Broadway show wholeheartedly. Well-choreographed numbers that utilized the entire cast and as much of the set as possible were a joy to watch. Surprising nobody, the standouts in these performances were often Erivo and Grande-Butera.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera don’t just stand out during musical numbers either. Grande-Butera’s performance as Galinda is both complex and hilarious, with impeccable comedic timing. Erivo’s performance as Elphaba is tragic and touching when both acting and performing, with an enthralling quality that means when Elphaba’s crying, you’re going to want to be crying right along with her. The supporting cast does feel a little all over the place, with fantastic performances from the charismatic Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton) as Fiyero and Marissa Bode as Elphaba’s paraplegic sister Nessarose – marking the first time a disabled performer has played the part.
Other performances leave a little to be desired, with Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible feeling a bit one-note and Bowen Yang’s and Bronwyn James’s roles as Pfannee and ShenShen, respectively, feeling like they add little to no substance to the movie as Galinda’s inner circle before she befriends Elphaba. Finally, Jeff Goldblum is here as The Wizard of Oz himself, though he largely ends up feeling like he’s just playing Jeff Goldblum. It’s a great casting choice and I wasn’t disappointed to see Goldblum on the screen, but I wanted just a little bit more from him in the part of the Wizard.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed seeing Wicked on the big screen. I had no expectations other than a vague fear I wouldn’t like it due to my history with the stage musical, but director Jon M. Chu did a wonderful job translating Act 1 of the musical from stage to screen, and I’m excited to see what Wicked: Part Two has in store late next year.
Score: 8/10
Wicked – Part 1
Written & Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Peter Dinklage, with Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Synopsis: Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.
Official Website: Link
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