A Wicked Good Time

Ever since I fell down the rabbit hole of Broadway musicals in 2015, I have patiently awaited the release of the “Wicked” movie. The seemingly endless delays on film production predicated my discovery of the musical; even my mom waited for its release for years. 

The musical takes the main villain of the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” the Wicked Witch of the West, and gives her backstory before the movie, focused on her relationship with Glinda the Good and now she became a villain. “Wicked” starts where “The Wizard of Oz” ends: with the death of the Wicked Witch, named Elphaba. The rest of the story is an extended flashback detailing Elphaba’s childhood and villainizing..

I saw the musical live in New York City in 2019, and to say it was incredible would be an understatement. Everything from the set design, the costumes, and the actors were phenomenal, so ever since the official announcement of the movie adaptation, I couldn’t imagine how they would be able to replicate that for the big screen. The feeling of being there in person was indescribable, particularly during the show’s most famous number: “Defying Gravity.” But “Wicked” on the big screen did the original Broadway musical justice.

Jon M. Chu, director of hit movies “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights” before “Wicked,” made the controversial decision to split the movie into two parts, with the second part coming out in late 2025. When I heard this, at first I was skeptical. I figured that splitting the musical into two parts would make it feel disjointed, assuming that the directors planned to add unnecessary plot points and stray from the original source. 

However, my assumption was far from the truth. The movie stayed faithful to the original context and only added elaboration where necessary. The added scenes successfully enhanced the characters and the overall stories, making the plot easier to follow–especially for new audience members who never saw the original show. 

The visuals were breathtaking. Chu limited the CGI usage in this movie as much as possible,  so physical sets were constructed for the scenes; Cynthia Erivo even put on green makeup did all of her own stunts to create a more authentic feel for the movie. The visuals truly immersed the audience in the story, compensating for the absence of a live performance and were truly a testament to Chu’s ability to bring a Broadway-level performance and experience to a widespread audience.

One can’t rave about “Wicked” without talking about the actors. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo played Glinda and Elphaba respectively. They put on a stellar performance and brought the show to life with their friendship on screen. Ariana Grande beautifully hit the high notes that the Broadway Glinda was known for, and Erivo’s performance of songs such as “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity” will hopefully win her the Oscar she needs to become the youngest EGOT in history. 

As a fan of the original, my favorite scene was “One Short Day.” Cameos from the original Broadway leads—Idina Menzel, who originated Elphaba, and Kristen Chenoweth, who originated Glinda—were nice nod to fans of the source material. Further, I really enjoyed the opening number of the movie “No One Mourns the Wicked.” The visuals, the set, and the contrast between Glinda and the crowd were mesmerizing, and it was immediately engaging for me and my family, some who had no idea what the movie was about. I am excited to see it again later this week, and I will be the first in line to buy tickets to the second part!