Jon M. Chu has been a musical film force in Hollywood since making some of the iconic Step-Up films, and really gained recognition for his film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians. In Wicked, Chu fully embraced the art of captivating audiences through enchanting practical sets, enhanced with expansive backdrops that deepen the overall visual experience.
Set in the Land of Oz, largely before Dorothy Gale’s arrival from Kansas, the plot covers the events of the musical’s first act, following green-skinned Elphaba’s studies at Shiz University and the beginning of her path to ultimately becoming the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside an unlikely friendship with a classmate who later becomes Glinda the Good Witch of the North. The film is filled with many references and foreshadowing to the events of The Wizard of Oz, delving into the origins of some of the most iconic characters.
The general storytelling and path was clear, but the most surprising part was how it began; as someone who never watched the Broadway play, I did not expect this prequel story to start that way. The only gripe with the way characters were portrayed in Wicked was how they primarily came off as one-dimensional.
“The vocal performances of both Grande and Erivo gleamed impressively in Wicked, as anticipated.”
The acting for the main cast was superb, and everyone understood the assignment to a tee. The shocking standout of the main cast was Ariana Grande, but not for the reasons one might think. Grande as Glinda was perfect because she was annoying and irritating as hell! If I was not reviewing this film, I may have walked out of the theatre in frustration, or took a short walk. In this interpretation of Wicked, Grande’s portrayal of Glinda is even more ruthless than Regina George from Mean Girls.
Cynthia Erivo was masterfully portrayed as Elphaba, serving as a compelling counterpoint to Grande’s performance. The dialogue delivery is charming, witty and snippy. Many people can relate to the feeling of wanting to respond when someone makes a very ignorant comment. Erivo provided enough of a vibe that Elphaba was caring, independent-thinking and pure-hearted. The best assumption would be that Elphaba will grow to be bitter in Wicked’s second part.
The vocal performances of both Grande and Erivo gleamed impressively in Wicked, as anticipated. I liked that the supporting actors were not overly edited and showcased their vocal strengths and range. The overall score and singing combination was more along the lines of Lyle, Lyle Crocodilewhenever Erivo and Grande were not singing. Jonathan Bailey’s singing as Fiyero was decent, but again sung within his vocal range and did not require going all out. His charisma in the film sure translated from his time on Netflix’s Bridgerton.
The dancing and choreography along with the musical numbers in Wicked seemed more like a flex than anything. Some people were doing backflips for some reason, potentially for theatrics? Chu loves his choreography in so many of his films, and from his dance background. Wicked did not really need too much of it, and the film benefitted from having reined it in to a certain degree.
The Wizard of Oz has had so many pop culture references, so I felt like I was not missing context for anything—as someone who watched the original film so long ago. I also understood enough to get certain references throughout the film, and certain foreshadowing. For those in a similar situation as myself, you will not be completely lost—maybe a little at first. But I get the feeling part two will tie everything together near-flawlessly.
The set decoration, construction, and integration of space require proper recognition and appreciation. While it does feel very stage-y for most of the film, the hard work paid off from a visual standpoint. There is one sequence in the Shiz University library that has a lot of moving environments, and the execution was thrilling to say the least.
“While it does feel very stage-y for most of the film, the hard work paid off from a visual standpoint.”
In terms of overall enjoyment, Wicked was somewhere between Cats and In The Heights. In comparison to other musical films, it could sit a little closer to The Greatest Showman. It was a great first watch, but not sure if it is as rewatchable as something like Mamma Mia!, or impactful as rent. The message about being true to one’s self was the major resonating factor though.
Also, there were many themes this first part covered—many of which I did not expect but immediately understood. One of the main themes I did not expect this film to tackle was animal cruelty. It was beginning to remind me a little bit of where Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3went with Rocket’s backstory.
The theme of otherness was also found in the film, both on-screen and off-screen. Erivo is a wonderful Black Broadway performer and actor, from the stage play of The Color Purple to films like Bad Times at the El Royale and Harriet. Whereas Elphaba is uniquely green-skinned, many judge her appearances and not her talents.Her performance in Wicked was powerful, and she took the space she needed to take on this role—and then some! Interestingly enough along the same lines of representation, Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible was a thoughtful choice for her to be the one who recognizes Elphaba’s gifts first—regardless of the intentions. She was able to look past what many other students and faculty members at Shiz University saw upon first glance at Elphaba.
The runtime is slightly justified to build the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, but there are certainly moments that were not needed. Every point about discrimination was hammered into my soul, and I felt like it was torturous for a PG-rated film. There are some frightening scenes, and the dialogue can be pretty savage in the insults and bullying—in case parents going with their kids need to know. At the end of the yellow brick road, Wicked’s first part was an entertaining hit with enough substance—despite having some missteps along the journey.
