I remember seeing Wicked: The Musical many years ago. I remember seeing the commercials on the television almost every day and my wife wanting to go see the show. My wife is a big Wizard of Oz fan and seeing this was her version of watching a new Star Wars movie for me. The Broadway musical came out in 2003 and I don’t remember much about it except for a few songs and how incredible the Great Oz looked on the stage. Here we are almost 40 years from when the book was published and we have a movie adaptation that is worth the wait.
I won’t rehash much of the story but the premise of the movie is how Elphaba becomes the “Wicked Witch of the West” and the events that lead to her death in the Wizard of Oz. As we learn in the story, Elphaba is misunderstood, even though she tries to do good things they are misconstrued. Since her birth Elphaba is mistreated by her father and is treated like a second-class citizen. Her father only sees her as a guardian for her younger sister, Nessarose.
Since we first see Cynthia Erivo on the screen as Elphaba, you instantly connect with her. Because of her skin color, she already has a response to what people think of her. It’s a great defense mechanism that catches people off-guard when she begins answering questions that they might have. Erivo shines in this role and when she starts singing you are transported to Oz with her.
Speaking of being transported, Ariana Grande is the perfect Yang to Cynthia’s Ying. Whereas Elphaba is humble and quiet in her ways, Galinda, later changed to Glinda, is showy, and wants to be the center of attention. Ariana perfectly portrays Glinda and her mannerisms will make you laugh out loud. Things from her multiple hair-tossing to how her voice changes pitches is something to behold. We all know that Ariana can sing but when Glinda and Elphaba sing together it can only be described as gravity defying.
Wicked covers multiple topics in its over two and a half hour run. Not only do we get the theme of belonging in Elphaba’s story but we also cover the topic of fear mongering, suppression of information, and animal rights. As previously mentioned, I did see the musical many years ago so I hardly remembered most of the story, but all of these topics kept me intrigued to see how they would play out.
Remember, this is a musical so there is a lot of singing going on from the very beginning of the movie. Being that this is on the big screen it is great to see how Jon Chu uses all of the sets to incorporate the songs. During the play on Broadway, all of the characters would be on stage at the same time but in this version, the camera flies from one person to the next as we are whisked away with the song. All of the musical numbers are fantastic! Seeing how the characters sing and dance as they perform heightens the feel of the songs and takes them to another level. Seeing Fiyero, played by Jonathan Bailey, dance through the library as he sings “Dancing Through Life” is one of the many highlights of this film.
Jon Chu does an amazing job in bringing Wicked to the big screen. All of the sets are incredible to look at and the fact that most of these are real sets helps you feel like you are in Oz. Speaking of practical effects, the huge wooden/metallic face of the Wizard is stunning! I have seen images of how huge the Wizard’s head is and by it being real it helps make those scenes stand out. One of the small things that I enjoyed was the use of the font in the main title. The way Wicked Part 1 is spelled out is a throwback to the movies of that era and is refreshing to see. It is also fantastic that the makers of this film acknowledge the original Broadway production in the credits. We would not have the movie we have today if it was not for this show.
Final Thoughts: Wicked is a beautiful adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. From the amazing scenery to the songs and costumes, the movie just pops from the screen. This will please all fans of the book and the Broadway show by going heavily into the characters and the motives in their lives. The film does run a little over two and a half hours and there are moments where you feel the time but it picks up in the second half of the movie. Wicked is an event movie and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are magnificent in their roles!
Kid-Friendly: Wicked deals with the themes of belonging that are relatable to everyone. Since birth, Elphaba has been shunned by her family and has always kept to herself. Wicked helps kids see that everyone deserves a place in the world and not be treated differently.
Violence: The is no violence in the movie. The closest thing remotely violent is the chase from the flying monkeys and soldiers of Oz during the final moments.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.