The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s novel, is one of the most beloved films in history. And, over the past nearly 100 years, audiences have been invited to return to its world in all sorts of ways. There’ve been sequels, books, adaptations, remakes, games, you name it. By far the most successful of those, though, has been Wicked, a multi-billion dollar Broadway smash that has dazzled audiences worldwide for over 20 years. It tells the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West, the villain of that film, posing that maybe she’s not a villain at all.
Few stage shows are as successful or beloved as Wicked, which places giant-sized expectations on the long-awaited film version which hits theaters this week. Thankfully, it delivers… for the most part. Director Jon M. Chu (In the Heights, Crazy Rich Asians) is at the helm of a two-part expansion of the story that isn’t always as propulsive as one would hope, but it sure soars when it needs to.
Wicked Part One, the official title as seen in the film itself, begins after the events of the original Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch is dead and all of Oz is celebrating the loss. That even goes for Galinda who, we soon learn, went to school with the witch. Things then flash back to that story, following the eventual good witch Galinda (Ariana Grande) and eventual wicked witch Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) during their years at Shiz University, one of the top schools in Oz.
Galinda is a popular, pink-clad princess. She’s perky, smiley, and everyone wants to be friends with her. Elphaba, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Her green skin makes her an outcast and her stoic, direct demeanor puts her at odds with Galinda. She’s not even supposed to be a student but one of the teachers—the magical Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh)—sees something in Elphaba and takes her under her wing.
Since this is a movie, not a stage production, there’s much more bolstering that basic setup. We see flashbacks of Elphaba’s childhood. A lot of time is spent with Galinda’s friends and some of it feels a little overstuffed and superfluous. Thankfully, things soon get settled, and Wicked locks in by finding the heart of its story: the rivalry and relationship between Galinda and Elphaba. The two are complete opposites, instant enemies, but are forced to room together. Once the song “What Is This Feeling?” hits, a vibrant, joyous feeling begins to build. There are pranks, there are jokes, and it’s very easy to become invested in their dynamics. In part, that’s because the banter is so fun but mostly it’s thanks to the performances of Grande and Erivo.
Whenever the film is focused on them, it’s phenomenal. They go from foes to friends in scenes largely driven by their electric chemistry and the musical’s incredible songs. Whenever the film is not about Galinda and Elphaba though, it drags a bit. The plotline about new boy at school Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) is cute, but lacking. Another, with Elphaba’s sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) falling for a munchkin boy named Bok (Ethan Slater), is similarly enjoyable but lacks the energy that comes with the two leads. Then there’s a storyline about the animals of Oz being systematically eliminated that feels almost wholly out of place, though it does gain in importance as the film moves along.
Anytime the movie is about any of those things, it’s just okay. You don’t hate it, but you yearn to get back to the two fascinating, fantastic main characters and see what they’ll do next. As Galinda, Grande is magnetic. One moment you hate her, one moment you love her, but you never for a second feel that she’s being anything but completely genuine. Erivo similarly commands the screen with captivating confidence, underscored by a self-conscious streak due to Elphaba’s feelings about being different. As the story moves on, each changes in big ways, especially once the story shifts to the Emerald City where they’ll meet the man himself, the Wizard of Oz, played by Jeff Goldblum.
All throughout, Chu’s direction fires on all cylinders. The musical numbers are staged on massive practical sets, filled with extras, all wearing stunning clothing. (Note: Keep an eye on the eyeglasses in the movie. They are amazing.) The camera flies around, adding scope, but gets intimate when the emotions demand it. Wicked is a grand, Hollywood spectacle on a scale we rarely see anymore, especially during the songs. Because, as good as Grande and Erivio are as actors, each is probably an even better singer. Every song in Wicked Part One is better than the last, culminating in the showstopping “Defying Gravity,” which has to be seen and heard to be believed.
And yet, as entertaining and beautiful as the film is, there’s not a lot going on beyond what you see on screen. It’s big and bright and while there are certainly some thematic strands to grasp onto, as well as some historical subtexts throughout, none are particularly enlightening or noteworthy. In the end, you get the sense that while Wicked is certainly made for all audiences, it will be beloved most by kids. Adults will enjoy it too because it’s been made to be enjoyable but it’s really quite basic.
Nevertheless, Chu and his team do a great job of finding just the right beats to end the film on, making the fact Wicked Part One is a “part one” a non-issue. If you didn’t know there was a second film coming in 2025, you probably wouldn’t care. You can connect the dots from this ending to The Wizard of Oz in your head. It’ll be interesting to see how Part Two compares to Part One simply because this half of the musical is so unforgettable and its adaptation is very nearly the same. Wicked Part One is an epic, entertaining film that, while lacking at points, is an absolute crowd-pleaser.
Wicked opens this week.
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