The magical charm around the “Wizard of Oz” has been around for over a century, and the appeal of “Wicked” has taken over the media. As a fan-favorite play, “Wicked” explores the past behind Glinda (Ariana Grande), the Good Witch, and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the Wicked Witch of the West. It circles themes of friendship, overcoming corrupt evils and putting popularity aside in the name of building true bonds. This film is only the Part 1 of the two-part adaptation.
The film is split into two parts because the production team let scenes breathe instead of ushering along the entire plot within two hours and 40 minutes, allowing the audience to engross themselves into the world of Oz.
From the halls of Shiz University to the CGI, the cinematography of the sets are incredible. The movie’s diversity is what makes it memorable as it switches from darker, more emotional scenes to fun dance numbers. In true musical fashion, the big ensemble numbers are where “Wicked” is at its best.
With the battles between good and evil, the comfort of feeling welcome and the freedom of yearning, “Wicked” uses the incredible abilities of Erivo and Grande to bring this play to life.
In a show-stopping performance, Erivo encapsulated the complexities of Elphaba’s everlasting dilemma between her ambitions against what is right, depicting her not as a wicked witch but as a misunderstood girl.
Her desire to see the Wizard of Oz jumpstarted from her childhood, when Elphaba is treated as a last choice by her father—the Governor of Munchkinland—and by all those around her who just see her as a strange, green girl.
Erivo brings an entire new level of artistry to the film. Nothing, not even the leaked snippets of her musical numbers, compared to the in-theater experience of listening to her rendition of “Defying Gravity.” Her dedication to making Elphaba be seen as not only a misunderstood character but also as a strong, leading female in the Ozion world speaks volumes to the role she played. Erivo’s rich, velvety voice shines under the weight of rejections and ridicule suffered by Elphaba, her voice showing the bruises that her skin cannot show.
Grande brings the frill to Glinda that makes the character. After months of training her voice, Grande’s vocal skills bring some of the most ridiculous lyrics to life and dominate the screen with her effervescence. She’s both elegant yet outlandish, complex yet shallow and dramatic yet composed. Grande’s ability to not only capture the character of Glinda, but make it her own with hair tosses and comical line deliveries makes her role in the film key to its success.
Erivo and Grande synchronize like they were born to play best friends who were doomed from the start. It’s their genuine, off-screen connection that heightened the emotional stakes of the final minutes in the movie. Erivo is reserved but doesn’t fade into the background, while Grande is boisterous without taking up too much space.
Many fans of the Broadway musical worried about the balance between Elphaba and Glinda in the film, but they did not need to, as Grande and Erivo found the perfect balance. Their vocals are, unsurprisingly, incredible throughout the film, but the quiet moments the two share carry just as much weight as the musical numbers.
The soundtracks have blown fans’ away because there is not one bad song in the movie. Each musical number has a unique perspective to it, sending chills down the spines of anyone who really listens to the lyrics.
“Wicked” is truly a faithful adaptation of the beloved musical. While it’s the long, hearty film that may scare away some audiences, it never drags. The film’s adaptation epitomizes what modern movie musicals can and should be—embracing originals while also keeping hidden surprises up the producer’s sleeves. Tear-jerking performances from Grande and Erivo make the movie, playing to their individual strengths to bring to life the connection between Glinda and Elphaba and making this film Oscar-worthy.
