Wicked

This review may contain spoilers!

Wicked is a film adaptation of the famous Broadway musical and, by association, the novels by Gregory Maguire. This film details the origin of Elphaba, who will come to be known as The Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, who will be known as the Good Witch of the South. The pair are united at Shiz University, where the promise of learning magical prowess and one day working with the fabled Wizard of Oz holds a special place in either students' heart.

I loved how this film, and indeed the greater musical, takes the well-known narrative of the Wizard of Oz and weaves a story equally as rich. Here we host a story that is still brimming with a fabled land, talking creatures and the allure of magic. However, it is also a story about being othered, of Elphaba growing up looking different and being treated as an outcast for it. She holds power, true power and yet never wields it out of an intention to harm. In fact, when she sees the talking creatures of Oz being marginalized and made to disappear, she stands against it. Elphaba is treated as an individual worth less than others due to how she looks and across the film this damage to her character is only further fuelled by more powerful characters; yet she is one of the truest points of good intention in the whole thing. Glinda (or Galinda) is a nice foil to Elphaba. Glinda comes from incredible wealth and status, filled with expectation that she will be a favourite at Shiz. However, despite her incredible popularity, she is considered not worthy of sorceress training. Glinda is quite an entitled figure and treats others as beneath her at first, including Elphaba. Yet the friendship that comes to pass between them, ignited by the immensely moving OzDust scene, is a wonderful catalyst for change. We see the good qualities Glinda starts to embody and develop through her time spent with Elphaba; things that would have defined her character as harsh instead soften and become good. Wicked takes a very colourful fantasy world and gives a good running commentary about marginalization and profiling; while also highlighting a central friendship that teaches us goodness isn't an appearance but rather something you do - it is in your actions.

Jon M. Chu really has put the work into crafting a full-blown production that honours the Broadway 'stage feel' of the material, with a heavy focus on exquisite practical sets. My favourites personally were the library at Shiz University and the train to the Emerald City. The camera glides and dances in with the leading performances and greater ensemble numbers, making the audience tumble through the music and become a part of this fantastical feature. The special effects aren't over-exaggerated, nor do they take away from the film as a whole. I loved the designs of the animals, the lion cub or Dr. Dillamond in particular, and yet it is seeing the origin of the flying monkeys that most impressed me. That scene, watching the wings sprout, was almost horrific in how arresting it was. The strength of the production really is the music, almost every number in this stands out so strongly. Though it will surprise no one that the heavy hitters really take the centre stage bow; "The Wizard and I", "Defying Gravity", "Popular", "No One Mourns the Wicked", "Loathing" and "Dancing Through Life" all completely knock it out of the park.

Ariana Grande, who played Glinda, has a real strength for comedy and leaning into the more camp qualities of Glinda; the dramatic elements felt harder but were brought out beautifully through her chemistry with Erivo. Jeff Goldblum, who played The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, is as eccentric and charming as you would hope for this showman figure; Goldblum feels intentionally a bit slippery here and plays a man caught in his own lie very well. Michelle Yeoh, who played Madame Morrible, is a stern and authoritative figure who rewards true talent; Yeoh's harsher more antagonistic element in the final act really stood out. Jonathan Bailey, who played Fiyero, is entirely charming as the princely new arrival at Shiz; I loved how truly good and noble Bailey made this prancing prince. Ethan Slater, who played Boq, is quite an aloof and light-hearted character; Slater plays the middle of his crush for Grande with his relationship with Bode very nicely. Marissa Bode, who played Nessarose, really portrays that slight distance between herself and her onscreen sister, Erivo really well; I also really believed in her strong proclamations of love for Slater's Boq. Peter Dinklage, who voiced Dr. Dillamond, is such a kindly and loveable presence; Dinklage crafts an old compassionate figure who is the subject of much injustice.

However, the best performance came from Cynthia Erivo, who played Elphaba. This is a character who has really embraced how different she is from other people and holds an indifferent sort of confidence that makes her very fun from the moment she sets foot in Shiz. Yet across the film, Erivo is so good at showing those little moments, the times where the bravado slips and hurt can be found. Her confidence is genuine but it is clear she still wishes or desires to be treated with the same respect and care as everyone else. I loved seeing the care she presents to others whether reciprocated or not, how she bonds with Fiyero or Dr. Dillamond are good examples but her relationship with her sister, Nessarose is too. All along Elphaba proves to be extremely resilient and forthright, she is a hardworking student and a consistent advocate for the talking animals who are being mistreated. I loved what Erivo brought to the OzDust scene, the hurt when she realises she isn't actually wanted and the strength shown in the dance she performs by herself anyway was powerful. I loved seeing her and Grande together, they really came to forge quite a natural chemistry across the tangent of the film. Erivo's voice is unmatched and isn't just technically good, it highlights the emotion of her character too. The hurt and betrayal we get in those last twenty minutes and the energy crafted by performing "Defying Gravity" like that made this one of the best character performances of 2024. However, I still hold that Erivo's solo of "The Wizard and I" is the defining musical number of this film.

There is a very gentle preamble in the first act, worldbuilding and explaining paired with long-winded character introductions that do make the first act quite slow in parts. I also didn't really feel like the romantic subplots that were at play were as compelling as other story arcs, they even felt a bit superficial. I wish the talking animal story arc had been explored a little more, it felt like it was given the minimum required to function for other characters and their motivations.

Andy Nyman, who played Governor Thropp, is barely a father figure to Erivo OR Bode; I just found the irritable persona Nyman brings to be very simplistic. Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James, who played Pfannee and Shenshen respectively, are entirely forgettable as Grande's entourage; there is very weak side comedy going on here that you won't remember. Keala Settle, who played Miss Coddle, is a confusing role that feels like she ought to have more presence; just an oddly antagonistic teacher presence that doesn't contribute to the overall story well.

A powerful and moving film that paves the Yellow Brick Road for the return of the iconic movie musical. I would give Wicked a 9/10.