Let us rejoicify! After over a decade of buzz and conversation surrounding the film adaptation of the beloved 2003 musical by Stephen Schwartz, based on 1993’s The Wizard of Oz prequel novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is about to be experienced by audiences around the world in a movie theater. For fans of any of the above, the anticipation has been brewing for a long, long time. It’s thrillifying to say that the wait was worth it.
Jon M. Chu understands the strength at the story’s core and how it resonates with audiences- friendship, discovering your power, intolerance, and corruption. It’s timeless, but I couldn’t be happier that it’s coming to the big screen now. Chu has previously worked his magic on In The Heights and Crazy Rich Asians, taking the stories to new heights with his dynamic and large-scale direction. His directorial debut, Step Up 2: The Streets, remains iconic to a whole generation. I mean, I still see people recreate that final dance sequence on TikTok!
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera make the perfect Elphaba and Galinda. Erivo’s performance is purely powerful, harnessing a strong veneer while allowing us to watch as that facade crumbles subtly. She’s tough but that way because she has to be. A lifetime of cruelty and prejudice from her family and peers has created the person we meet. Galinda is larger than life- always vibrant and bubbly. She’s gotten her way her whole life, and people literally fall at her feet.
They’re entirely opposite, and their relationship starts off contentious, but after Elphaba makes a grand gesture for Galinda, a friendship blossoms. The Ozdust Ballroom scene is the catalyst for this. After Galinda learns how Elphaba has helped her, everyone in attendance mocks her, but Galinda uses her popularity to uplift her and open others’ hearts to accept Elphaba’s differences.
While she is stellar throughout the entire film, Erivo is bewitching at that moment. Grande-Butera shines in every way, capturing the spirit of Galinda while bringing something new to the table seamlessly. Her physical comedy is a standout, seizing every opportunity to fully embody the energy. It never falters for a moment! I’d be shocked if Erivo and Grande-Butera didn’t receive Best Actress and Supporting Actress nominations at this year’s Academy Awards. They own this first part, and we don’t get too much to chew on with the other characters in this one, but we’ll see more of them in the second part.
Even though we haven’t seen the rest get fleshed out yet, this casting by Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey is what dreams are made of. Jonathan Bailey radiates charm with his Fiyero, the Winkie prince. Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum are a wicked pair as Madame Morrible and The Wizard, respectively. Marissa Bode’s Nessarose, Ethan Slater’s Boq, Bowen Yang’s Pfannee, and Peter Dinklage’s Dr. Dillamond are glorious supporting cast choices. I can’t say enough amazing things about this ensemble!
Paul Tazewell’s costume design is another element that hits it out of the park. It’s shocking how much depth there is, down to each tiny detail packed with character foreshadowing (looking at you, Boq!) and homages to the story that came before. Glinda and Elphaba’s wardrobes are absolutely stunning and convey everything we need to know about their growth throughout this film. It’s lush, and the layers of intricate textures do wonders to draw our eyes onto them in the aforementioned visually less appealing scenes.
One of my favourite details is the tornado heel on the jewelled shoes gifted to Nessarose by her father. These costumes were truly woven with the whimsy of this wonderful world. The choreography by Christopher Scott and Will Loftis is essential for bringing theatrical magic to the screen. The standouts for me were the “Dancing Through Life” sequence, how the acrobatics utilized the set gorgeously, and “Popular.” I eagerly awaited what they could do with “Popular,” and I loved the peppy and animated beats.
The weakest part of the film is the visuals. It fluctuates in quality, with certain moments, especially set during the day and outside, having a creamy, smooth sheen. The color grading and lighting is washed out, starkly contrasting to other scenes that feel so vibrant and alive. I needed more grit and texture in those moments. We’ll go from muddy, very backlit shots to gleaming greens and shimmering pinks in the next sequence. I wish it were more consistent in delivering the grand, effervescent visuals we see in about half of the sequences, but across the board.
They still have time to fix this for the second film, but the lackluster moments took me out of the dazzling magic of the story. The visual effects work is incredible, adding to the huge sets they created for this film. The animals look incredible, with Dr. Dillamond looking like a real goat, yet somehow, he emotes properly in all of his scenes. It manages not to make CGI animals look corny- take notes, The Lion King(2019)!
There is so much depth to the themes of this film. Elphaba is ostracized because of how she looks, even though her heart is full and she cares deeply for those around her. She’s completely selfless, willing to risk herself to help others with less power than she does. Although they were once welcomed as members of society, the animals of Oz are literally being silenced and utilized for authoritarian gain.
The wizard represents those without power and manipulates those who do have it. The futile, feeble leaders specialize in deception, fooling those into thinking that they are for the people’s benefit when they only seek more selfish power. It’s eerie how this story becomes more of a parallel to our reality as time passes.
With striking themes, stunning choreography, stellar performances from the entire cast, and energetic direction, Wicked is one of the best musical adaptations of the 2000s. Although the visuals left more to be desired, all the other pieces came together magically. Wicked defied all of my expectations, especially considering it was just the first part of the tale. Jon M. Chu is a masterful storyteller, and I was so happy to meet two of my favorite characters in a brand new way with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera. There is a world of possibilities regarding Wicked: Part Two, and I’m counting down the minutes until we experience the next chapter. My heart is still soaring!
Rating: 9/10