Few adaptations capture the heart of a beloved musical while elevating its story for the big screen, but “Wicked” achieves just that. Based on the 2003 stage production that remains a theater classic, director Jon M. Chu delivers an enchanting blend of song, story and spectacle. This film is a must-watch for both die-hard fans and newcomers.
Even as a musical theater lover, I (Francine) somehow missed out on the “Wicked” phenomenon – until now. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring such depth and complexity to Glinda and Elphaba, moving audiences to tears with their character growth and friendship development. Grande impresses her fanbase and skeptical “Wicked” lovers with a captivating performance, reflecting her lifelong dedication to her childhood dream of playing Glinda. Meanwhile, Erivo brought her characteristic power and nuance to Elphaba, adding an extra layer of awe with her ability to perform flying stunts while singing live in the air.
Following the “beautifully tragic” upbringing of Elphaba Thropp, a wickedly green girl who is ostracized by her family and society throughout her life, ends up being roommates with Galinda Upland at school. The audience is taken along the journey of watching the two develop their friendship, all while the government of Oz is up to no good removing animals from society. Elphaba and Glinda follow what they assume is the path to helping the animals and meeting the Wizard. However, nothing is as it seems, the magic of the Wizard is more of a facade than fantastic. In this discovery, we get to see how Elphaba becomes what fans of “The Wizard of Oz” know her as, the Wicked Witch of the West, and how Glinda becomes the Good Witch of the North.
Beyond the impressive performances, the costuming deserves its own spotlight. Glinda’s wardrobe is a fairytale dream – pink dresses and glimmering accessories perfectly reflect her bubbly personality. On the other hand, Elphaba’s costumes evolve with her character, moving from modest dresses to striking, witchy silhouettes that mirror her journey toward self-acceptance and confidence. Every stitch tells a story, from the polished uniforms of Shiz University to the rich vibrancy of Emerald City attire.
The musical numbers are nothing short of mesmerizing. Whether it’s the joyous exploration of Emerald City in “One Short Day” or the emotional weight of the ballroom scene during the ebbs and flows of “Dancing Through Life,” each number feels like its own small masterpiece that you need to watch every moving part of. The flashy choreography combined with the live singing showcases an extraordinary level of pure talent that keeps audiences completely in awe.
Hayley here, and I couldn’t agree more with Francine! This film does a wonderful job of not re-imagining, but evolving the 2003 Broadway rendition into an expertly crafted storytelling experience. Chu made incredible decisions in recreating the world of Oz, by using practical stage effects and very limited CGI movie magic, keeping the authenticity of a Broadway production alive.
While simultaneously paying homage to the original Wizard of Oz film, Chu captures this subtly in ways like the film’s saturation and coloring. He mimics the original Wizard of Oz saturation and lighting in order to maintain the feeling that the audience is in the same universe as the beloved original tale. All creative choices were made to pay respect and consideration to both stories that came before this one. Something that for me, a major theater lover, tips this movie over the top. This is a feat many re-tellings aren’t capable of doing successfully for die-hard fans.
Speaking of the die-hard fans, this film is full of Easter eggs! Without issuing a spoiler, I highly encourage you to keep a keen eye out for all the turns of phrase, poses, and not-so-subtle object placements. Everything done in this film is done with some serious intention!
For the music enthusiasts, please revel in the melodies that find their way seamlessly weaving from the original “Wizard of Oz” to ‘Wicked’ on Broadway, and now to the big screen. Grande’s and Erivo’s vocals both impressively embody Glinda and Elphaba making the characters their own, yet somehow familiar to the beloved versions that came before them. Grande all but ditched the popstar style for this performance, truly becoming this generation’s Glinda.
With that, we “rejoiceify” in giving this movie a five out of five rating, our highest of the semester! A perfect way to conclude the fall semester, with our only complaint being that we must wait until next fall to see part two.