Wicked
review by Drusilla Blakey
In 1939 the world was introduced to the magical musical The Wizard of Oz. The timeless classic has enchanted audiences since its debut and spawned all sorts of stories in comics, novels, prequel films and reimagining’s. In 1995 author Gregory Maguire and illustrator Douglas Smith brought their revisionist series Wicked that consisted of four books and inspired the popular musical of the same name. Now Crazy Rich Asians director Jon M. Chu has brought the story to the big screen starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.
Wicked follows the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads, and their lives take very different paths. Glinda's unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba's determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future.
Having never seen the Broadway show or read the book, I went into the new film "Wicked" with fresh eyes and an open mind. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The film was visually stunning, with beautiful cinematography that brought the magical world to life in a way that was both enchanting and engaging.
As a huge fan of the Wizard of Oz film, I really appreciated how "Wicked" tied its story directly to the ending of that classic movie. It added a layer of nostalgia and connection that made the experience even more special. I also appreciated the key attention to detail in recreating the original movie set, the costumes, and the visual creation of the world.
The singing was another highlight for me; I love musicals. Even though I'm not a super fan of either of the main stars, their performances were impressive. More so when I recently found out that they performed much of the singing live while filming. The musical numbers were well-executed and added a lot of emotional depth to the story. However, I did feel that Ariana Grande's portrayal was a bit too ditzy at times, which slightly detracted from her character's story. Despite this, she still managed to bring a fun and lively energy to the role.
Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Elphaba was the highlight for me, and it's easy to see why her character is a fan favorite. I remember as a child being scared and hiding anytime the Wicked Witch would show up on screen. Now, I see her through new eyes because although she may eventually turn out to be evil, it's clear that external factors, such as the mistreatment she faces due to the color of her skin, play a significant role in shaping her destiny in the Wizard of Oz story.
On a deeper level, this movie brings forward some interesting themes and makes us question what is true friendship? Are you willing to stay loyal to your friend when everything else is against you? What are you willing to sacrifice to do what is right? And of course, we have to take a good look at power and corruption. It's a much deeper story than I thought it would be.
Now, one aspect that left me quite disappointed in was the film's length. For a movie that is only part 1 of 2, it felt quite long and slow at times. While I understood the need to set up the story for the second part, there were moments where the pacing dragged, making it feel like the film could have been tightened up a bit.
Overall, "Wicked" was a beautiful and enjoyable film that captivated me with its visuals and music. Despite a few minor issues, it left me eagerly anticipating the next installment.
In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including deleted & extended scenes, commentary, featurettes, and both theatrical and sing-along versions of the film. Return to the Emerald City and check out Wicked available now on digital and then on 4K and Blu-ray on February 4th from Universal Home Entertainment.