Embark on an exhilarating flight through the magical and familiar world of Oz.
The film “Wicked” is an ambitious attempt to combine the well-loved Broadway spectacle – dance numbers, stunning vocal riffs and iconic costumes – with the subtle detail of cinematography. Dramatic sets and vivid scenes — both real and computer-generated— give the big-screen viewing of “Wicked” a new immersive quality and take you on a revealing journey: beginning with a fantastical land and ending with sentiments that speak to ours.
Oz is no longer confined to Dorothy’s original yellow brick road, instead spanning across a continent of four different lands, each with their own unique flair. The film’s main investment was in creating Munchkinland, the farm-filled eastern region, planting over 9 million tulips that helped create Oz’s surreal beauty on the big screen. Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), later known as the Wicked Witch of the West, is born in one of these quaint Munchkin villages.
Her childhood is told with a short but engaging narrative: a secret affair and a mysterious potion resulting in an egregiously green child. Growing up spurned by a father who saves his affections for her sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode) who uses a wheelchair, Elphaba dreams of meeting the magnanimous Wizard, who could fix her green predicament.
Her dream appears to come true at Shiz University, where Elphaba’s magical prowess catches the attention of sorcery professorMadame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) and the jealousy of her new suitemate Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande). Glinda, whose all-pink and sparkly wardrobe reflects her truly “Popular” personality, , appears as the pinnacle of an archetypal character, leads a percussive dance in the courtyard and walks around the brightly-colored campus with a cohort of loyal followers.
Shiz University, like much of the set, has a storybook quality to it – everything seems slightly undersized and a little too perfect. At times, these flat backgrounds can appear unfinished or fake – a sore reminder that Shiz University is really just a scaffolded, oversized prop.
On the other hand, the film never fails to impress with its rendering of vast vibrant landscapes, especially when paired with Erivo’s heart-wrenching rendition of “The Wizard and I”.
The narrative revolves around Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship, which begins to blossom despite a few bumps in the road as the pair bond in classes alongside fellow students. Against Shiz students’ general scorn for Elphaba, Glinda begins to see her undesired suite-mate as a friend. Braving scorn and snickers from other students, Glinda joins Elphaba in a bizarre but sweet dance at a party, surrounded by a ring of flamboyantly dressed Shiz students— who eventually join. The uniquely immersive quality of “Wicked” comes in part from the meticulous design of background characters, with even supporting students donning uniforms that reflect their individual personalities.
Erivo’s stunning portrayal of a proudly independent but also deeply insecure Elphaba brings nuance to the character and makes the almost-cliche story believable. In comparison, Grande’s performance lacks depth – even when bubbly Glinda takes on more sincere lines, there’s a missing intensity that Erivo brings to the screen.
More importantly, it’s hard to look past Ariana Grande and see Glinda. If you’ve ever watched Grande’s other roles in television —Cat in Victorious, Chanel #2 in Scream Queens — Glinda feels like a slightly more mature version of the same character: a pretty, air-headed and sometimes-sincere character that often blurs with Grande’s own personality.
The film picks up pace in the second half of the two-hour forty-minute runtime as Ephaba and Glinda travel to Oz’s glittering capital to meet the Wizard. A bright and modern reimagining of the Emerald City features a performance by the original Broadway Elphaba (Idina Menzel) and Glinda (Kristin Chenoweth), reflective of the film’s dedication to paying homage to the musical.
The songs and dance numbers in “Wicked” feel surprisingly natural, without the awkward breathy pause that sometimes wedges itself between dialogue and singing. After a whirlwind tour of the city, we finally meet the Wizard – and afterwards, it’s a torrent of action: magic, spells, and secrets revealed.
Without a doubt, the final few minutes of the film, and Erivo’s moving performance of “Defying Gravity” (the soundtrack’s centerpiece jewel), are the film’s most memorable scenes. A tear-jerking resolution leaves you furious with the fact that the second film is only arriving in 2025. It’s in these last scenes that the film’s central themes of friendship, ambition and acceptance really shine through– a little late in the runtime but understandable considering that we’re only halfway through the entire story.
‘Wicked’ might not be your cup of tea if you enjoy more action-packed scenes, but it’s an impactful story with themes of friendship that anyone can enjoy. The soundtrack is phenomenal, the cinematography is beautiful, and the sets are stunning. Whether it’s terribly good or perfectly evil, the film is truly wicked.
