After over two decades since Wicked hit the Broadway stage, the Wicked movie was released Nov. 21, 2024. Directed by Jon M. Chu, who is best known for directing musicals Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights, and produced by Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, Wicked captures the magical essence of the iconic Broadway musical. Wicked is set in the land of Oz, and tells the backstories of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), the ‘Good Witch’.
Wicked is based on the original 2003 Broadway musical and 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The Wicked film is only the first part of the story, aligning with the first act of the musical. Instead of shying away from its musical roots, like similar movie-musical adaptations, Wicked embraces it with grand, extended musical sequences and exciting choreography, maintaining the emotional depth of the original songs.
Both students at Shiz University, Glinda and Elphaba are polar opposites, Glinda bubbly and popular and Elphaba an outcast due to her bright green skin and unruly magical abilities. Although they initially loathe each other, the two soon form an unlikely friendship.
Glinda attempts to make Elphaba popular and the two girls grow closer together during the bubbly song “Popular.” Overflowing with comedic charm, Glinda’s lighthearted personality and angelic voice shine as she dresses Elphaba with an assortment of pink, sparkly accessories.
In contrast, Elphaba faces deeper internal conflicts as she struggles with her identity and standing up for her beliefs. When her beloved history teacher Dr. Dillamond, a talking goat, must leave due to rising anti-animal sentiment in Oz, Elphaba knows she must rise to the occasion. Additionally, she faces the struggle of being an outcast, ridiculed by her peers due to her green skin, causing her to feel hurt and misunderstood. These struggles collide when Elphaba meets the Wizard of Oz where she must choose what to ask for: freedom for the animals or to make her skin normal.
In every scene, Cynthia Erivo masterfully captures Elphaba’s complexity and vulnerability. Through her mesmerizing vocals and powerful body language, she conveys the pain of being misunderstood in a way that is emotionally resonant with audiences. This is especially highlighted in Elphaba’s performance of “The Wizard and I,” which captures her longing to meet the Wizard of Oz.
Ariana Grande captures the comedic timing, angelic voice, and emotional complexity of Glinda. Her exaggerated gestures, like the iconic “Toss, toss” hair flip, represent Glinda’s playful and self centered personality. As the movie progresses, Grande captures Glinda’s character development as she starts to become compassionate and understanding.
Erivo and Grande’s on-screen chemistry is a standout part of the movie, as they perfectly complement each other’s voices and acting. The actresses highlight this not just through their contrasting vocal styles, which blend beautifully, but especially through complex scenes. This includes a scene where Glinda tricks Elphaba into wearing a hideous hat for a dance and later regrets it, showcasing the actor’s talent and the depth they bring to their characters.
When Elphaba arrives at the dance, the whole crowd of students stop and turn to laugh at and mock her, the hurt clear in Elphaba’s eyes. However, Elphaba takes back her power, despite being ridiculed, by going into the middle of the dance floor and starting to dance in silence, the hurt yet strength is clear through her body language. In this moment, there is a turning point for Glinda and she joins Elphaba on the dance floor, the two girls dancing in silence together in this powerful moment, where Glinda becomes more understanding.
To further the movie’s commitment to preserving the magic of the original Broadway show, they included many ‘easter eggs’ that refer to the Broadway stage. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, the actresses who originally played Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway, appeared in the “One Short Day” sequence in the Emerald City.
Vibrant and whimsical, the sets in Wicked made it even more captivating, with intricate details that create an immersive experience for the audience. Production designer Nathan Crowley designed creative and unique elements of the set including rotating bookshelves that students danced on during the song, “Dancing Through Life” and planting nine million tulips in Munchkinland.
While the Wicked movie remained similar to the musical one main difference was the final dramatic song “Defying Gravity,” which was much longer in the movie compared to the musical. Many new aspects joined the film scene, such as Elphaba and Glinda attempting to escape the Emerald City in a hot air balloon, winged flying monkeys chasing them, and Elphaba falling from the Wizard’s tower. The cinematic and dramatic lengthening of the ending scene added excitement and anticipation for part two of the movie.
With a run time of two hours and 40 minutes, Wicked is worth every minute, immersing viewers into the whimsical and vibrant land of Oz. Elphaba and Glinda’s unique yet universal struggles are captivating, earning Wicked five out of five feathers.
