Elphaba, a misunderstood young woman because of her green skin, and Glinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz. After an encounter with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads.
As a little girl, I loved “The Wizard of Oz.” I even dressed up as Dorothy for Halloween. The costume was such a hit in my house that my grandmother has a ruby slipper ornament she puts on her Christmas tree every year. My mother also took me to see “Wicked” as a little girl. I remember loving the play and the songs. ‘Popular,’ of course, is the most memorable for an eight-year-old girl.
However, it has been a long time since I’ve seen Wicked, so I forgot a lot of the plot points before seeing this film. But this is a faithful adaptation of Act I of the play. To those who might not be aware, as it was not advertised, this is “Wicked: Part One.” The second film should be released sometime next year.
First off, the performances given by our two main actresses are fantastic. Ariana Grande, as Galinda, has excellent comedic timing. She always got some laughs with her various dramatic hair flips. However, this is Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) showcase. Elphaba, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, is significantly undervalued and misunderstood due to her skin color. She has a hard exterior, trying to prove that the disgusted looks and comments don’t bother her when they do. She gets off on the wrong foot with Galinda, who is quite spoiled and vain, but they eventually become good friends. Needless to say, the two leads have a fun dynamic, and the actresses have great chemistry together.
Rounding out the supporting cast are Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Jonathan Bailey. Bailey is quite charming as Prince Fiyero. He, like Galinda, is quite vain, but there’s more to him than meets the eye, which only Elphaba seems to notice. Yeoh plays Madame Morrible, and Goldblum plays The Wizard. They both know their roles and are there to bring more star power to this film.
The songs are fun, grand, and well-executed. Grande and Erivo have amazing voices and, yes, do justice to the music. Jon M. Chu is a great director, and I’m glad he’s getting the chance to direct bigger films. “Crazy Rich Asians” was a phenomenon, and I think “In the Heights” is an underrated musical. However, one thing about “In the Heights” is that it was mostly filmed on location. And you can tell that wasn’t the case with “Wicked.” “The Wizard of Oz” was filmed on soundstages with practical, tangible sets. It gives the viewer a better sense of palpable space. The abundant CG backgrounds in this film make it feel out of place. I know they are the norm in big blockbuster films, which this is, but this is a significant disconnect from the 1939 film.
Another gripe about the film is that it’s too long. This becomes apparent when the third act sets in. A lot of the story beats in Oz feel rushed. Galinda, who now goes by Glinda, has little to contribute. She is just there. Even though I know this film is following the Act I structure of the play, the natural stopping point is when Elphaba and Glinda board the train to Oz.
However, my biggest gripe about this film is the cinematography and color grading. Technicolor is one of the reasons why “The Wizard of Oz” is so iconic. I understand that Technicolor is an outdated service, as many films are no longer shot on film, especially not black and white. That is also not to say that “Wicked” is without color, but the colors are not vibrant. They needed to ramp up the color saturation. “Wicked” lacked the look of “The Wizard of Oz.” This is a significant misstep, in my opinion, especially if you are tying into the iconic film, which “Wicked” does.
Despite the look of the film, I was quite taken with “Wicked.” The story is strong and has recontextualized “The Wizard of Oz” for me. “Wicked” also has big musical numbers and knockout performances. Due to the look of the film from the trailers, I wasn’t looking forward to this film. However, it exceeded my expectations, and I anxiously anticipate “Wicked: Part Two.”
In Theaters Friday, November 22nd
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20k
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Can’t wait